FOUR binmen were battered in two co-ordinated pole and axe attacks while they were on their rounds, leaving two hospitalised.
Staffordshire Police said the two shocking assaults happened within about half an hour of each other on Tuesday morning in Stoke-on-Trent.
The force was first called to Fairhaven Grove just after 11.15am on Tuesday when a bin lorry was damaged and a refuse worker in his 50s taken to hospital with head and facial injuries when punched and hit with a metal pole.
Then at 11.50am at nearby Birches Head Road three axe-wielding men attacked three binmen and smashed up their wagon.
That second attack left a binman being taken to hospital with head, face and torso injuries and two others treated at the scene.
The two refuse workers taken to hospital were both later discharged and the attacks saw Stoke-on-Trent City Council stop bin collections for that day.
Now a 27-year-old man, from Stoke-on-Trent, has been arrested 180 miles away in Suffolk on Friday, on suspicion of violent disorder and possession of a bladed article in public.
Investigations to find three people suspected of involvement in the second attack were continuing, said officers, and the attacks are being treated as linked.
Meanwhile, safety concerns have been raised with the city council over the attacks, says the GMB union which represents Stoke-on-Trent’s refuse workers.
‘DISGRACEFUL ATTACK’
Senior organiser Colin Griffiths from the union said: “This is a disgraceful attack on key workers serving their community.”
Earlier this week, the Stoke-on-Trent City Council described the attacks as “completely unacceptable” and a spokesperson said their thoughts were with those injured.
A council spokesman said: “It is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
“Our thoughts are with those who were injured and their loved ones, and we would like to praise and thank our crews for doing their jobs and supporting our city.
“We are supporting the ongoing police investigation. Our teams work tirelessly to provide a public service and should not have their safety put at risk.”
MAN ARRESTED
On Friday night Staffordshire Police said: “A man has been arrested after a number of refuse collectors were assaulted in Stoke-on-Trent.
“We were first called at 11.18am on Tuesday, March 21, to Fairhaven Grove in Birches Head following reports of violence.
“A man assaulted a refuse collector and damaged a bin lorry. The victim, a man in his 50s, was taken to hospital by ambulance with head and facial injuries.
“He has since been discharged.
“We were then called to Birches Head Road at 11.47am. It was reported that three men had assaulted three men who were working as refuse collectors at the time.
“One man was taken to hospital with facial, head and torso injuries. He has since been discharged.
“Two others received medical treatment at the scene. We are treating both incidents as linked.
“A 27-year-old man, from Stoke-on-Trent, has been arrested in Suffolk this afternoon (March 24) on suspicion of violent disorder and possession of a bladed article in a public place.
“Enquiries are ongoing to trace the other three suspects involved in the second incident.”
