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Update: Girl set on fire in street

10:26am today Monday 16th June 2008

comment Comments (63)   Have your say »

By Robert Fisk »

A TEENAGER cried out in pain after being set on fire yesterday (June 15).

The 15-year-old girl had a flammable liquid poured on her in an Eltham church yard before it was lit at around 4pm.

A nearby resident, who did not want to be named, heard screams so rushed to the scene at the junction of Middle Park Avenue and Churchbury Road.

Taking his t-shirt off as he ran towards her he quickly wrapped it around her face and hair to put out the flames.

The man said: "I live on the green and she was in the churchyard.

"I was a bit shocked, it was pretty frightening.

"She was a young girl and I was shaken up.

"I kept her calm but she looked like she was in a lot of pain.

"She was just crying for an ambulance."

He added: "Her injuries could have been a lot worse.

"I just saw the girl on fire and just wanted to put her out because she was burning."

The teenager was conscious after the attack but her hair and face have been badly burned.

Police and ambulance staff were called and she was taken to a specialist burns unit.

It is alleged that she was attacked after she kissed someone else's boyfriend.

This has not been confirmed by police.

  • A 19-year-old woman was arrested in connection with the incident and is in police custody.

Your Say YourShopper

KN, Sidcup says...
10:48am Mon 16 Jun 08

What on earth? This is getting worse. Girl on girl violence is getting out of control. I dont believe how any1 could do this to another human being. Honestly...what is happening and what can we do about it? Thoughts go out to the poor girl and wishing a speedy recovery

Tony, says...
11:00am Mon 16 Jun 08

Absolutely disgusting. Hope the victim recovers asap and the assailant gets life (even though she'll probably get a stupidly lenient sentence). Unfortunately there are so many scumbags living in London now this sort of thing is becoming more and more frequent.

LV, says...
11:18am Mon 16 Jun 08

Absolutely disgusting!!! Who in their right mind could do something like this. To actually pour the liquid on someone and then light it, knowing exactly what will happen! Totally agree with you Tony, no doubt the attacker will end up with a suspended sentence or something!

LV

Susie, bexley says...
11:21am Mon 16 Jun 08

It's getting scarely common to physically hurt someone for revenge or jelaousy! This and someone getting stabbed in the back up Bexleyheath on Sat too its getting all too much! I would never consider bringing a child into this world not with the generation of kids were bringing up now that consider it right for this sort of thing.

Eleanora, Sidcup says...
11:31am Mon 16 Jun 08

It churns my stomache hearing these stories. It honestly is a new one every week. I'm not saying i blame the mums but teenagers really do beleive that they are the new adults and we urgently need to change this now . I have younger sisters and can't help but worry in this day and age. It shouldn't be like this.

Pink Kitten, London says...
11:40am Mon 16 Jun 08

What is wrong with these people? Why would anyone do that to someone? Glad to hear that someone helped her. These people who think it is clever to hurt people need some of their own medicine!
Outrageous behaviour!

s, erith says...
1:32pm Mon 16 Jun 08

Oh my god, how could someon do that to another person.
I hope she recovers.
I heard about the stabbing in Bexleyheath aswell, gangs again!

Karen, SE9 says...
2:21pm Mon 16 Jun 08

I agree with everyone else on here. I live about 8 doors away. All of my neighbours and me were appalled and sickened that such a thing could happen. I hope they lock her up and throw away the key! Thoughts and prayers to the victim and her family.

Lucy, says...
3:05pm Mon 16 Jun 08

WHO? WHY? You may well ask...but have none of you heard..?

HELL HATH NO GREATER FURY THAN THAT OF A WOMAN SCORNED!

Doesn't make it right, I know, but take heed, jealously is a powerful emotion!

Pink Kitten, London says...
3:23pm Mon 16 Jun 08

Lucy wrote:
WHO? WHY? You may well ask...but have none of you heard..? HELL HATH NO GREATER FURY THAN THAT OF A WOMAN SCORNED! Doesn't make it right, I know, but take heed, jealously is a powerful emotion!
So the answer is set fire to a 15 year old girl?

What happened to a good old fashioned fight with fists?

No I forgot people today are cowards.

I'm not sure what's worse the person who set her on fire or you trying to justify the persons actions?

What is this place coming too?

churchbury neighbours, se9 says...
3:33pm Mon 16 Jun 08

Karen is right above we are all appalled with what happened old people in our street are afraid to come out alone they are afraid to complain and beleive me there are no boys or men involved these are young mums and young girls and there are babies and toddlers watching this violence and listening to the offensive language its such a shame what kind of future is in store for these little kids.it was a shocking thing to happen and a shocking thing for kids to see yesterday,as neighbours we know the young man who helped this girl and we would like to thank him for doing what he did he probably helped save her life.do you have any updates as to how the young girl is today.

John Mitcham, Bexleyheath says...
3:36pm Mon 16 Jun 08

This is pathetic, it seems all to regular in the doldrums and pathetic world that is Eltham. What kind of parents and schooling have these people had. I'm glad I'm not around this area and feel sorry for people that are, as you cannot feel safe


Yve, Work says...
3:46pm Mon 16 Jun 08

This is disgraceful. I have a 15year old girl and this sort of thing worries me sick. As a mum who has been married for 26 years, if it was over a bloke. Believe me, he isn't worth it! They never are!

Rob, Chislehurst says...
4:33pm Mon 16 Jun 08

So it's now become sexist.. what a daft comment, are you saying your husband isn't worth it?

Susan, Bexley says...
5:10pm Mon 16 Jun 08

Rob get down of your high horse mate she didnt mean it as a sexist comment only that in the article it is over the girl kissing the over girls boyfriend and the particular male clearly knew he would be playing off against each other thus men are not worth it!!

Debbie, Eltham says...
5:22pm Mon 16 Jun 08

Well, I live in Eltham and have an 11 year old girl and a 9 year old girl. Any thoughts on them going to and from school on the bus are OUT! I will have to work around dropping them off/picking them up! John Mitcham - it is happening everywhere, not just Eltham! There is not a lot we can do I'm afraid - you get glassed if you confront these yobs! I am frightened for my girls' futures

Rob, Chislehurst says...
5:26pm Mon 16 Jun 08

We have a young girl covered in fluid and set light to by someone who clearly has no scruples, over an alleged kiss, and HE is the one not worth it, so i guess Yve must know him personally to be able suggest it.

Way eh, Tyne and Wear says...
5:45pm Mon 16 Jun 08

Why is a 15-year-old kissing a 19-year-old's boyfriend? Sounds like either the woman or her boyfriend has been cradle snatching.

lisa, se9 says...
6:39pm Mon 16 Jun 08

look before you all start passing judgement you dont know her. well i did she didnt kiss anyones boyfriend it was all crap. you need to stop listening to news papers that dont know know what there talking about
get well soon baby
love you ****

Debbie, Eltham says...
6:53pm Mon 16 Jun 08

lisa wrote:
look before you all start passing judgement you dont know her. well i did she didnt kiss anyones boyfriend it was all crap. you need to stop listening to news papers that dont know know what there talking about get well soon baby love you ****
Lisa - it doesn't matter if she kissed anyone or not. It is unbelievable that this happened to her, and we ALL hope she gets well soon. I don't think anyone posting questions here thinks that she deserved it! I just hope that she fully recovers and is OK

terrified mother, Bromley says...
7:25pm Mon 16 Jun 08

This is getting unreal, I would belive to read this in the local newspaper in America or Jamaica, not ELTHAM .. I dont think this wil ever stop, if anything its going to get worse ! i am also a mum of 2 young children and it makes you wonder where they will end up, hopefully i will teach them respect and pray to God that they are safe

a proper person, orpington says...
7:59pm Mon 16 Jun 08

All i can say is these stupid LITTLE BOYS AND GIRLS think they're hard and think everyone else will think they're hard....UR NOT, U R the most pathetic people in the country. No wonder her boyfriend kissed someone else. Surely he wanted a real woman. All these people will eventually grow up and ONLY THEN realise what they've done and be haunted with it forever (like they should). Only when they have grown up will they realise the real worries in life -your health, mortgages, money, THERE kids safety, not "oh my god he looked at me funny" Sort it out, you think your so grown up but U REALLY ARE NOT. U'll go to hell, taking one of gods creations because "they looked at me funny". idiots

Melissa, Eltham says...
8:06pm Mon 16 Jun 08

I was horrified to see the Paramedics working on this poor young girl. How can anyone even think about ding this to another human being, regargless to what they have done, todays society is sick. My thoughts are with the young girl and I hope she makes a speedy recovery

maria, woolwich says...
11:18pm Mon 16 Jun 08

i just wanna say i known this girl for ages and she wouldn't go kissing someone's bf i love you to bits lucy and hope you make a full recovery people make me sick going round doing stuff like tht xxx

mark, eltham says...
12:54am Tue 17 Jun 08

sorry to here what happend babe you dont know me but i thought as i live in eltham i should say some think. there are some sick people out there and sorry to here one of them hurt you hope ya get better sooon. bless ya babe xx

Nick, Eltham says...
1:06am Tue 17 Jun 08

I have just recently moved to Eltham from the North East of England and this place is like nothing I have ever witnessed before. The place is over run by scum. To be honest I don't really feel all to safe going out at night and I'm a guy in my early twenties! Having this happned just round the corner from our home certainly doesn't help.

bob, florida says...
3:58am Tue 17 Jun 08

we left south london 8 years ago we had a good buisness and a nice house we had two boys 11 and 8 who didnt want to leave their friends , i used to go to the local pub friday night and sunday to watch footbal , people used to take cocane in the bathrooms we decided not to let our children grow up in England , i read the newsshopper every week , i think we made the right choice .

Working, Sidcup says...
8:52am Tue 17 Jun 08

terrified mother wrote:
This is getting unreal, I would belive to read this in the local newspaper in America or Jamaica, not ELTHAM .. I dont think this wil ever stop, if anything its going to get worse ! i am also a mum of 2 young children and it makes you wonder where they will end up, hopefully i will teach them respect and pray to God that they are safe
Sorry, what has Jamaica or America got to do with it! Have you not seen all the previous in cidents that have taken place, or is this type of news all new to you?!

n, says...
8:52am Tue 17 Jun 08

Terrorism is not our biggest concern, the people of Britain are. There government needs to open a few more prisons. Our population has risen, so should the cells. Each and everyone involved in a barbaric attack like this, should get atleast 10-20years.

The worst thing is, they don't care about concequences, they know they will get away with it, and nothing held them back from doing it in the first place. I do personally think that this country is screwed, and will not be a place any of us would want to invest in.

genie, says...
9:54am Tue 17 Jun 08

You all amaze me with your comments of how awful this particular incident is EVERY incident is disgraceful which is unjustified from stabbings, to shootings, to rape,mugging and now being set alight. Whats the answer? NO HUMAN HAS IT

a .mum of four, barnehurst says...
10:24am Tue 17 Jun 08

i think we should all leave the uk & let the scum get on with it . i do fear for my young children .its only going to get worse .i dont know what the answer is to get country back to some sanity.

Lucy, says...
11:15am Tue 17 Jun 08

Pink Kitten wrote:
Lucy wrote: WHO? WHY? You may well ask...but have none of you heard..? HELL HATH NO GREATER FURY THAN THAT OF A WOMAN SCORNED! Doesn't make it right, I know, but take heed, jealously is a powerful emotion!
So the answer is set fire to a 15 year old girl? What happened to a good old fashioned fight with fists? No I forgot people today are cowards. I'm not sure what's worse the person who set her on fire or you trying to justify the persons actions? What is this place coming too?
I don't justify it you fool! It is a quote out of the bible! You should put your glasses on, I also said 'it doesn't make it right!' And YES jealousy is a powerful emotion. I'm not in the least bit trying to justify it, but people like you who can't seem to tell the difference between people who commit horrendous crimes and people who write quotes and that IS a problem! You need to get things into the correct perspective and then you will be better equipped to pass judgement!

mark, jamaica says...
11:17am Tue 17 Jun 08

quote
Whoever wrote that pathetic scenario about wanting to read this stuff in Jamaica or America is an absolute fool. Eltham is an area full of scumbags and always has been. Full of lowlife trash and all to regular. What excuse have these people have that live in Jamaica have an excuse for their madness... Poverty, what excuse have these people got!!!

ME, at home says...
11:44am Tue 17 Jun 08

Mark,Jamaica - Not all parts of Eltham are full of scumbags nor has it always been full of them.The trouble seems to be in one particular area - Middle Park estate.There are some very respectable parts of Eltham and quite a few famous / wealthy people have chosen to live in Eltham both now and in the past.When i was at school 20- 25 year's ago i had friends from school that lived on Middle park estate and there was never the trouble that we see there today.Its the same as Mottingham & Coldharbour estates - years ago they were normal places to live.Kids could play out,go to the park or the tarn or over the woods on their bikes but now you couldn't let your kids out on their bikes because they get them nicked or they'd be beaten up.The estates now seem to be full of low life scum who spend their lives causing trouble and claiming benefits.I was one of the lucky ones - brought up on a council estate but with hard working parents who bought their council house and got us of off the estate before the scum thrived there.Needless to say they are bringing the area down and thats what gives the reputation of the whole of Eltham being a dump and full of low life scum - when it is really only one or two areas where the scum congregate

edward, catford says...
12:00pm Tue 17 Jun 08

first the murder outside lewisham police station then the beckenham murder after that the bakery murder in lee and now this? that's i'm moving to the peace and tranquility of downtown kingston.

paul, se9 says...
12:42pm Tue 17 Jun 08

well guess wat no one realises how badly this has affected ppl i should no im one of her best mates ho lives just down the road from where she was hurt. it makes my heart break to know some1 would do this to her if i saw the girl ho did this i would do more then wat the court is doin coz my mate didnt desrve it. so listen up b4 u make accusations or anythin get the full story coz guess wat i would really lik to know the truth coz my freind is in hospital and if she doesnt recover there will b hell to pay. trust me

churchbury neighbours, se9 says...
1:47pm Tue 17 Jun 08

ME wrote:
Mark,Jamaica - Not all parts of Eltham are full of scumbags nor has it always been full of them.The trouble seems to be in one particular area - Middle Park estate.There are some very respectable parts of Eltham and quite a few famous / wealthy people have chosen to live in Eltham both now and in the past.When i was at school 20- 25 year's ago i had friends from school that lived on Middle park estate and there was never the trouble that we see there today.Its the same as Mottingham & Coldharbour estates - years ago they were normal places to live.Kids could play out,go to the park or the tarn or over the woods on their bikes but now you couldn't let your kids out on their bikes because they get them nicked or they'd be beaten up.The estates now seem to be full of low life scum who spend their lives causing trouble and claiming benefits.I was one of the lucky ones - brought up on a council estate but with hard working parents who bought their council house and got us of off the estate before the scum thrived there.Needless to say they are bringing the area down and thats what gives the reputation of the whole of Eltham being a dump and full of low life scum - when it is really only one or two areas where the scum congregate
beleiv us it is not where the scum congregate it is where the council put them in churchbury road there are many decent families whos children have turned into fine respectable citizens and people who have bought their houses in the days when the street was good and now cannott afford to move out because they are too old to take on another mortgage it is so sad for all of these people at the end of the street where it happened there are people who have lived there all there lives some more than 50 years it is only the small minority who are terrorising the street and making it hell for everyone.the council should vet these people before they put them in and they shouldn't allow problem families to exchange into a family street it goes without saying the problems they caused where they lived before will follow them. there are many decent young families out there with working husbands and working wifes who are desperate for a garden for their kids and when allocations are considered these people should be considered first instead of this habit of turning respectable homes into safe houses for these youngster whilst their boyfriends languish in jail and we look after them all.give the family homes to the deserving ones and put the scum together.then you would see the old eltham come back why would you give a house with back and front garden to people with no respect for property, neighbours etc it beggers beleif to me how these people in the council think.property should be checked to see its being maintained and these people at the first time of causing nuisance should be out....

unknown, elthham says...
2:20pm Tue 17 Jun 08

i do not understand why people are taking the mick and making jokes iknew this girl and i seen what happened after the attack it is sickening you had people taking photosand throwing stones and shouting abuse at the emergency services something has to be done

anita, dartford says...
2:24pm Tue 17 Jun 08

Aargh!!!! Please don't say the person that did this horrible crime is a mother!!!! Another bloody pram face getting benefits I bet. This is the future .........

MB, Bexleyheath says...
2:25pm Tue 17 Jun 08

I don't mind the odd typo here and there - it's just a quick response comment box after all - but the complete lack of punctuation in chavling's posts here is quite something! Do they teach full stops and capital letters anymore in school?

Massive sympathies to the girl in question. Teenage girls have been fighting for ages, usually over some no-hoper boy, but to go to the extremes of actually setting light to someone is just unfathomable.

anita, dartford says...
2:36pm Tue 17 Jun 08

Aargh don't tell me the person who did this horrible crime is another pram face mother poor kid being brought up by someone like that. These babies that are being born to these inbred scum bags are our future ..........

anita, dartford says...
2:37pm Tue 17 Jun 08

Aargh don't tell me the person who did this horrible crime is another pram face mother poor kid being brought up by someone like that. These babies that are being born to these inbred scum bags are our future ..........

anita, dartford says...
2:39pm Tue 17 Jun 08

Aargh!! Please don't tell me that the scum who did this is a "mother", these interbreeding scum are breeding these babies for this country's future!!!

anita, dartford says...
3:34pm Tue 17 Jun 08

To the friends of this poor young girl, being a mother to a daughter myself please tell her that not all people are like this piece of scum, there still are some very nice teenagers about who wouldn't dream of acting in this feral manner. Hope she gets better soon.

Yve's daughter, Home from work says...
3:41pm Tue 17 Jun 08

Rob wrote:
So it's now become sexist.. what a daft comment, are you saying your husband isn't worth it?
Don't you dare talk about my family! No my mum's not saying that my dad isn't worth it. At least they are still married, unlike a lot of people these days and me and my sister have got a stable home life.

JON, ISLE OF DOGS says...
4:38pm Tue 17 Jun 08

The terrible spelling, punctuation and grammar and repeated use of the word ''babe'' on this board proves what we all know inside. Eltham is FULL of thick kids.

michelle, eltham says...
5:37pm Tue 17 Jun 08

i wud jus like to say that you all seem to be getting into a debate about whether eltham is full of scum or not, i live in eltham and i myself know there are some very respectable people includin myself and my children we're not all like the girl that commited this terrible crime and just because we use the slight sbreviation here n there doesnt mean we're thick JON

John, Otford says...
6:02pm Tue 17 Jun 08

Poor girl. no one deserves that. I hope the girl who has done this gets done for attempted murder. I can't beleive what I am reading. A young girl has been set on fire. GOD HELP US!. Eltham is getting worse. Some right scum around Eltham now. and yes yes before anyone start I no there are really nice people. I am glad I moved out of Eltham...SCUM

Amie, says...
6:18pm Tue 17 Jun 08

i hope the girl what done this gets what she deserves, seriously it is becoming rediculous!!
I hope that she recovers fully :) x
I just don't understand why they do this and what they actually achieve from doing it gangs should be stopped aswell! this is another reason for some of the things what are happening because teenagers feel as if they have to join in with them because if they don't then they will end up like this!
STOPall of this NOW it is becoming really bad!

maria, woolwich says...
6:48pm Tue 17 Jun 08

i just wanna say to that disraspectful guy saying the kids from eltham are thick i am one of the girls who wrote babe alot and i am not thick or from eltham please get your facts right and if you not gonna show your respect to my mate in this terrible situation keep your remarks to yourself they do not wont to be read you are just as bad no respect for anyone but yourself,!!!! get well soon hun xxx

sarah, eltham says...
8:24pm Tue 17 Jun 08

I am a mother of 2 girls from eltham and they are not thick or scum,aint you forgetting something jon,this is a child we are talking about who is in intensive care and if she does pull through she is going to have to live with the scars for the rest of her life people like you make me sick you are the only scumbag .

ms, eltham says...
9:23pm Tue 17 Jun 08

as a mother the 19yr old as a mother herself should have thought about her own child b4 listening 2 stupid stories about a 15yr old child with her bloke she should have relized the scun bag guy was to blame 4 this 4 being with a underaged tenage girl,the 19yr old should have put her child b 4 the guy. as 4 lucy my heart goes out 2 u ,and her freinds that were with her when they had 2 c there freind ,all her freindswere in tears ,ihope the 19 yr old pays an lives with the pain that lucy has to .get well soon lucy . xx

cuthbert smithson-chumleigh, north park says...
5:18am Wed 18 Jun 08

Also,im appalled at the lack of grasp of the Queen's english on these pages.Not only by the undesirable element, but in some cases by their parents.Just take time to browse the comment column here and see the names some people have endowed upon these unfortunate creatures !!!!!!IT JUST PROVES NO-BREEDING

Eltham Dweller, The nice part of eltham says...
8:10am Wed 18 Jun 08

Cuthbert, it astounds me to the core to read your comments about the lack of grammar on this chat thread - do you realise that you have 4 grammatical errors on your last post alone???? You can't blame Eltham for spawning this kind of crime. You have to remember, we live in a suburb of LONDON. It's not some idyllic rural community where people have chickens for pets and can let their children roam free you know. It's London. You get 'scumbags' everywhere - but it's not just where they live that makes them like that. Throw into the mix a judicial system that doesn't punish young criminals, a community that has become secular, an education system where it's more important to be PC and nurture the pupil's feelings as opposed to instilling discipline, lack of job opportunities, teenage pregnancies...the list is endless. And more importantly these are countrywide issues, not just Eltham issues. I hope you can tell from my post that I was actually well educated. Well I bet you wouldn't think that I was a teenage mother. I probably would have ended up like the perpetrator if I didn't have the education, support of my parents, the chance of a future and the fear of my father beating the life out of me if I were to get involved in the police. I'm from a very rough part of Glasgow and the same thing has been happening there for an age. Same as Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham.........d

o you get my drift? Stop beating Eltham with the stick of all crimes - it's a lovely place to live. It's just that sometimes the damaged minority make it difficult to see that sometimes. My love and prayers to the victim and her family. When these girls grow up they will see the error of their ways and will beg you for forgiveness. Trust me. X

Upset parent, Ferrier Estate says...
10:40am Wed 18 Jun 08

I can't believe what I am reading on this page. It makes me really angry and annoyed that people are arguing over this.
IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE FULL STOP whether these people are "chavs" or not or if she kissed another girls boyfriend - no human being deserves to be treated worse than an ANIMAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!
I have spent most of my life living on Middle Park and the Ferrier Estate - not all of us are "inbred chavs" or "estate scum".

This sort of thing is happening EVERYWHERE. I have young children who I now will no longer let go out and play because it is not safe - WHAT THE HELL IS THIS WORLD COMING TO??????????????????

?

Lets stop arguing over who's fault it is and look to a way to stop this madness happening again.


god bless Lucy x hope your well again soon x

Tom, says...
1:37pm Wed 18 Jun 08

yep - all of you people who are so quick to comment and pass judgment really need to know the full true story not what the idiotic press are writting up, i mean 'girl sets another girl on fire over a kiss etc' please do not make me luagh as this is the total opposite of the actual situation.

Melissa, Eltham says...
3:38pm Wed 18 Jun 08

What is the truth then Tom

Tom, says...
4:06pm Wed 18 Jun 08

the truth is - well i'll let you all dwell in your obviouse simple minds untill it all comes to light, it is not my place to go around talking.

NO ONE deserves to have done to them, what has happened and i feel for the famoly etc of this 15 year old - BUT - I'm saying what the UK press is portraying htis as is NO WHERE near the truth of the whole situation. I belive 'Mick' has posted some of the actual truth on this comment section, so open your minds to more then what the girls close mate has told the press after the incident!!!!!! sad small minded peopleomst of you on here are, really!

stacy, says...
6:25pm Wed 18 Jun 08

its not a site to pay respect its a to discuss and learn to spell

paul, eltham says...
8:47pm Wed 18 Jun 08

well guess what i have no fear of showing my feelings im just asking politly to please stop arguing

MissMagic, Sidcup says...
12:53am Thu 19 Jun 08

No there are THREE sides to every story!

The girl that’s in hospital, her side.
The girl that’s in the police station, her side.

AND THE TRUTH!

anonymous, south east london says...
3:29am Thu 19 Jun 08

what is dis arguin bout, 4 one the papers can be crap and personally the onli people who know the truth n are involved is whoever was there, cuz one is my sister, n ma m8 is lyin in a hospital bed fightin thru this (get well soon bbes miss yuxx)

Edward, Catford says...
12:37pm Thu 19 Jun 08

I know what london needs. Zero tolerance like in new york. over there if you do the most mionr of offences the law will come down hard on you. it worked wonders there and can work wonders here to and don't give any crap about meeting targets

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