Chaos erupted in parts of Scotland on Bonfire Night as police vehicles were set ablaze and fireworks were launched at emergency crews. The disorder, which unfolded in Glasgow and Edinburgh, prompted a large-scale response from Police Scotland.
Glasgow: Police Car Set Alight
In the Provanmill area of Glasgow, officers were called to reports of an injured man on Greenside Street at around 19:55. While attending the scene, police and ambulance crews came under attack from fireworks. Dozens of onlookers watched as a police car was set on fire in the middle of a residential street, forcing emergency services to withdraw.
Specialist resources from Operation Amberlight were deployed, and one man was arrested. Police remain in the area, and inquiries are ongoing.
Edinburgh: Fireworks Thrown at Officers
In Edinburgh's Oxgangs area, fireworks were thrown at officers, though no injuries were reported. Police had been called to Oxgangs Road North at about 17:30 following reports of youths blocking the road. A police spokesperson said: "Officers attended and fireworks were set off in their direction, but no injuries have been reported. Several small fires in bins and the park were extinguished by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. Officers remain in the area, and inquiries are ongoing to trace those involved."
Elsewhere in the city, firefighters tackled a blaze in Murrayburn Park, Wester Hailes, after being called shortly after 19:00. In Knightswood, Glasgow, fireworks were thrown at a fire appliance, and in Dundee, a public order unit was deployed after more than 100 youths gathered and started a fire on the road. Reports suggest around 50 people were launching fireworks and causing disorder.
A 15-year-old boy was taken to hospital in Alexandria after a firework exploded and damaged his eye. Fire crews were also attacked in Castlemilk, Whitburn, and Cumnock.
Police Operation and Warning
BBC Scotland was given access to the Strategic Coordination Centre at Police Scotland's headquarters in Fettes, where a wall of CCTV screens monitored Edinburgh and Glasgow. The atmosphere was calm despite pockets of disorder, with public order units deployed as needed. Teams from Police Scotland, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, the Scottish Ambulance Service, the Scottish Government, and Edinburgh City Council were in attendance, along with officers from as far afield as Avon and Somerset, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, and South Wales.
Chief Superintendent David Robertson said: "Tonight is about capitalising on the additional capability and capacity we've got deployed tonight. We need to respond effectively and we need to make our presence felt when it's required."
Chief Constable Jo Farrell issued a stern warning: "You'll face the full impact of the law, you'll be arrested and you'll face the consequences. I have no tolerance for that level of violence on the streets of Scotland." She added: "I know that the planning and the work that has gone into tonight is as good as we have ever done and so we have given ourselves the best foundation on which to ensure people can enjoy Bonfire Night."
