Northumbria Police said missiles, fireworks and bricks were thrown at emergency crews in Meadow Well after officers responded to reports of anti-social behaviour at about 21:00 GMT on Thursday. The force said the crews came under violent attack in the Waterville Road area of North Tyneside.
Police later linked the disorder to misinformation about the future of a building. They said the building was wrongly believed to be a House of Multi-occupancy, while a supermarket was planned for the site.
Waterville Road response
The call-out began when police went to the Waterville Road area of Meadow Well at about 21:00 GMT on Thursday. After that response, the scene escalated into missiles, fireworks and bricks being thrown at emergency crews.
Northumbria Police said the behaviour was completely unacceptable. It said crews had been subjected to violent attacks while responding to the initial reports of anti-social behaviour.
Building rumours in Meadow Well
The force said the disorder related to misinformation surrounding the future of a building. In its account, the wrong belief that the site was intended as a House of Multi-occupancy helped fuel speculation about what would happen there.
Police said the planned use was a supermarket. By putting that information out, the force said it was trying to stop speculation that may lead to further disorder.
Northumbria Police message
The practical point for people in Meadow Well is that police have tied the violence to rumours about the site rather than to the building itself. The remaining issue is the spread of that misinformation and how quickly it can be shut down before it prompts more trouble in the area.
