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06
Nov
Police appeal after firework attack on Ripon hornblower
Police have appealed for witnesses after fireworks were thrown at the Ripon hornblower and members of the public last night (November 5).
Allison Clark, the city's first female hornblower, was setting the watch at 9pm when fireworks were hurled towards the gathering on Market Square.
Councillor Barbara Brodigan, the mayor of Ripon, said she had been informed a member of the public's hand was burned but nobody else was injured.
Cllr Brodigan added:
"There were three huge explosions and the third one landed near where Allison was blowing her horn."
The team of hornblowers are employed by the city council, and Cllr Brodigan said she had reported the incident to the council's human resources committee.
A post on the hornblower’s social media page said:
“The matter has been reported to the police and CCTV centre. If you or anyone you know has any information that may assist the police, please contact them.”
Ripon clerk Adam Chugg said: "Obviously, we are very concerned about what happened."
The Stray Ferret asked North Yorkshire Police for information about the incident.
A spokesperson said:
Police in Ripon received a report that fireworks had been fired into Ripon market place at around 9pm on 5 November, narrowly missing members of the public.
The report was received approximately two hours after the incident had happened.
Enquiries are ongoing and we are appealing to anyone who has been affected by the incident, witnessed it, or has any video footage such as dashcam, CCTV or doorbell footage to get in touch.
The hornblower ceremony takes place every night at 9pm.
It dates back to the middle ages when the wakeman, who was responsible for nighttime crime prevention, blew a horn to signify the start of the watch.
The task is shared by a group of hornblowers.
Anyone with information is urged to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101 and pass information to the force control room for incident 12250209615.
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