Bourne illegal rave missile attack leaves officers injured
- Published
Three Lincolnshire police officers were taken to hospital after coming under attack at an illegal rave.
The police were called to Twyford Woods, near Bourne, at about 23:00 BST on Saturday over reports of loud noise and anti-social behaviour.
The force said officers then came under attack from missiles, including bottles, thrown by about 200 of the 1,000-strong crowd.
Four people were arrested at the time with another 12 arrested later.
Ch Supt Stuart Morrison said bottles and missiles were thrown
A police dog was also injured. Another 18 officers reported minor injuries and all three taken to hospital have now been released.
The first four arrests included three women, aged 18, 20 and 21, from Norfolk, and one man whose details have not yet been released.
Ch Supt Stuart Morrison said: "The first officer injured was hit by a vehicle as he tried to prevent it being driven on to the site.
"Other officers were injured when we tried to close it down and bottles were thrown - and I believe some people had an intention to resist violently.
"We are going to close it down and investigate the criminal behaviour which has taken place."
'Spoiling fun'
Partygoer Ruhi Al-Maghrabi said the event was a regular celebration called UK Technival.
He said: "There were lots of people in front of a sound system having lots of fun and then there's lots of police.
"They were trying to shut it down, then some people retaliated, then the police, I guess, were doing their job but women and kids got crushed in the scuffle.
"I was heartbroken because why would they spoil all these people's fun?"
Police confirmed the A1 was closed for a time due to cars and pedestrians on the highway. A lane was again closed on Sunday for the same reason.
Motorists were warned by police to avoid the area as people attending the event dispersed.
Officers said they had seized sound systems and power generators.
East Midlands Ambulance Service also confirmed its hazardous area response team supported the police and had treated patients at the scene.
In June 2012, the force was criticised for not taking strong enough action to stop another rave on the same site.