The horrifying moment a teen confronts patients with a makeshift flamethrower has been caught on camera.
Footage, which has been widely shared on social media, appeared to show a 17-year-old blasting flames toward two men as they sit in A&E at Royal Liverpool Hospital.
The sickening clip shows the boy sauntering into the waiting room with his hands in his pockets before taking out the flame torch he created using an aerosol can and cigarette lighter and targeting one man with it, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Grainy CCTV footage shows the man ducking for cover and running off before the teen turns his attention to a second man’s face. The waiting room then erupts into panic and he’s then restrained by others.
Merseyside Police confirmed that they were called to the scene just after 1.50pm on Monday, January 22 where the boy was detained by security staff.
The force said the teenager was quickly restrained by family members and no serious injury was caused. The teen was detained by security staff before being assessed by mental health nurses and receiving treatment.
Merseyside Police told Express.co.uk: “We can confirm officers attended the Royal Liverpool Hospital on Monday 22 January to a report of a male behaving erratically.
“It was reported just after 1.50pm that the 17-year-old male had used an aerosol can and lighter to direct flames towards two men in the Emergency Department.
“He was swiftly restrained by family members and no serious injury was caused. The 17-year-old male was detained by security staff and assessed by mental health nurses before receiving further treatment.
“The men affected declined to make a formal complaint regarding the incident.”
Express.co.uk has approached Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for comment.
A spokesperson for Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust told the Liverpool Echo: “We don’t condone acts of violence or aggression and the safety of our patients and colleagues is our priority.
“We have provided support to the patients involved in the incident and the matter has been referred to Merseyside Police.”
NHS ambulance workers suffered more than 9,500 violent attacks in the last five years according to GMB trade union data released last year.
GMB reported that staff have been the subject of sickening offences including headbutts and bites as well as being spat at.
The figures – from 2017-2022 – also revealed over 1,200 sexual assaults had been reported during that time.
