Birmingham city centre turns into a 'war zone' on Halloween as yobs fire fireworks at police and seven are arrested
Crowds on a Birmingham city-centre street on Halloween night, when West Midlands Police invoked Section 60 stop-and-search powers — allowing searches without reasonable grounds — to restore order after seven people were arrested.
Crowds on New Street and Corporation Street fled screaming as rockets were fired directly at shoppers and police officers, with one witness describing fireworks "exploding next to people in the street." West Midlands Police imposed a Section 60 order overnight, giving officers stop-and-search powers without needing reasonable grounds. The seven arrested — aged between 15 and 26 — are suspected of assault, fireworks offences and carrying an offensive weapon.
Officers were deployed in increased numbers after 21 arrests the previous Bonfire Night, when police came under fireworks attacks.
Video circulating online showed yobs launching large pyrotechnics at police riot vans in an open act of defiance, while officers could be seen chasing suspects through the streets.
'I would be amazed if nobody was injured — fireworks were exploding next to people in the street. It was mayhem,' one onlooker said.
