Bomb Thrown At Police Car And Shop Windows Broken

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31257, 2 January 1967, Page 1

Bomb Thrown At Police Car And Shop Windows Broken

(New Zealand Press Association)

MOUNT MAUNGANUI, January 1.

A petrol bomb was thrown at a police patrol car and several people were injured by beer bottles thrown by drunken youths in riot scenes at Mount Maunganui on New Year’s Eve.

Twenty youths were arrested on charges ranging from attempted arson to obscene language and causing wilful damage. In the local police station they were remanded to appear in the Tauranga Magistrate’s Court tomorrow.

Fifteen were remanded on bail; the other five were held in custody.

An estimated £lOOO worth of damage was done to shops in downtown Mount Maunganui when dozens of plate glass windows were shattered with bottles shortly after midnight. The petrol bomb flared up under the police car which had been immobilised when youths let down its tyres. Police pushed the car to the side of the road away from the sc’ig flames which threatened the car’s petrol tank.

Fire engines were called to quell the flames but the fire was out before they arrived.

The police car was towed away from the scene amid a shower of bottles, one of which smashed against the . rear window. Another bounced off the cab of the tow truck.

After the incident a youth was arrested and charged wth attempted arson. Once the police car was taken away the crowd gradually dispersed and by 2.30 a.m. the streets were almost deserted.

Earlier, one building in the business section had eight top-floor windows worth £2 IDs each smashed by bottles. Four display windows, each valued at £l5O, were broken in the same building. Windows in other buildings were also broken. Injuries Treated Two people in the crowd received medical attention for gash wounds and about 12 others were treated by ambulance men for minor cuts. The road in the main buslnesss section was littered with glass for 200 yards. A number of bare-footed youths suffered cut feet During the disturbances a photographer was warned by youths not to take photo-

graphs or he would be "beaten up.” Other youths posed arrogantly. Residents described the youths’ acts as the worst cases of vandalism they had seen. They said they feared for the safety of their property. Bottles were hurled at youths shouting abuse from the top of shop verandas. The missiles were thrown back at the crowd.

The bottle throwing and other incidents were greeted by cheers from a section of the crowd. Twelve constables and three sergeants aided by two dogs were on duty. The size of the crowd was estimated to be over 1000.