Firework police look to seller
CCTV footage shows the firework exploding in the shop
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Thursday, 01, Nov 2007 12:57
Detectives hunting the man who set off an "industrial-style firework" in a Bolton shop on Monday are hoping the seller of the explosive in question will come forward.
A statement released this morning by Greater Manchester police said the firework, previously thought to be a Fantasia 218, had now been confirmed as the more powerful Annihilator 500 Shot Repeater.
The already-lit explosive was thrown into the California Wines shop on Tonge Moor in Bolton at 21:30 GMT by a man wearing a black cloak and "skeleton-type mask", as seen in the movie Scream.
CCTV footage released yesterday shows the man dropping the firework and running off before the first of around 500 separate rockets begin going off in the shop.
The shopkeeper is seen kicking the firework out on to the shop's porch as it continues to discharge rockets. His 15-month-old son, who was in the shop at the time, vomited as a result of smoke inhalation and was rushed to Royal Bolton hospital as a precaution. His injuries were not severe.
Although pleased that a number of responses had been received after yesterday's appeal for witnesses, Greater Manchester police's Inspector Tony Kenyon said he hoped retailers of the firework would come forward.
"This firework is much larger than normal fireworks and would probably retail for anything between £40-£50," he said.
"I would urge any local retailers who sold this item to anyone in the last few weeks to contact officers as soon as possible so we can continue our investigation."