Mob attacks police station in English coastal town

LONDON, Aug 19 (Reuters) A 100-strong mob attacked a police station in eastern England today hurling beer and wine bottles at the building after three people were arrested as they headed towards a nearby illegal music event, officers said.

The ''major incident'' broke out at the building in the coastal resort of Great Yarmouth in Norfolk shortly after midnight after police detained three people on suspicion of driving a vehicle carrying sound equipment.

Soon afterwards officers said they were called to an unlicensed music party which was taking place at a warehouse in the town's Harfreys industrial estate.

More than 100 officers from Norfolk and three neighbouring counties were brought in to deal with the trouble.

Chief Superintendent Bob Scully said the three detained people were not involved in the ''shameful'' attack on the police station during which he added officers had narrowly avoided ''serious injury''. But he said the two incidents were linked.

''We acted swiftly to control the situation and to restore order. What occurred was entirely unacceptable, large scale antisocial behaviour carried out by a large group of people, and is inexcusable,'' Scully said.

Police said they had arrested 15 people outside the police station and at the warehouse, premises belonging to Thermaglow Ltd, a company which makes electric heating elements.

The arrests were for public order offences, possession of illegal drugs and taking a vehicle without consent.

Officers, who also seized 44 vehicles, were also investigating a burglary at Thermaglow where a ''substantial amount of property'' was missing.

REUTERS SBC PM2326