Eight police officers were injured when they came under attack from around 100 youths armed with fireworks and petrol bombs in Edinburgh on Sunday night.
Police in the Niddrie district of Scotland’s capital were forced to don riot gear when the trouble broke out around 5 p. m. on Bonfire Night, the traditional commemoration of the arrest of Guy Fawkes beneath the House of Parliament in London and the exposure of the gunpowder plot in 1605.
Police said the disorder was organised by around 50 people who were seen directing fireworks, petrol bombs and other projectiles at the police as well as at vehicles and buildings.
Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf, writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, said, “Disgraceful scenes of fireworks misuse across some areas of Scotland last night, particularly in Niddrie.”
He paid tribute to the police and to the fire brigade and added, “Those responsible should feel the full force of the law.”
The leader of Labour-controlled Edinburgh City Council, Cammy Day, called for a complete ban on the sale of fireworks to the general public.
9 Attacks on Scottish Fire Crews
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said there its crews were attacked nine times during an eight-hour period with the assailants using both fireworks and bricks.In June 2021, the Scottish government introduced legislation which heavily restricted the sale and use of fireworks.
The Fireworks (Scotland) Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 2021 prohibited setting off fireworks outside of the hours of 6 p.m. and midnight on Nov. 5 and between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. on every other night of the year, with the exception of New Year’s Eve.
Using fireworks illegally in the street in Scotland can lead to a maximum fine of £5,000 or a six-month prison sentence, although most offenders are given an £80 fixed penalty notice.
Police Scotland’s Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs said: “A minority of individuals have been responsible for an unacceptable and frankly, disgusting level of disorder that left communities alarmed and police officers injured.”
He said: “The violent nature of the situation witnessed in the Niddrie area of Edinburgh is extremely concerning, not least because it is believed young people were being actively encouraged and co-ordinated by adults to target officers while they carried out their duties.”
Police Scotland said there were a handful of arrests but it said it expected to detain more people in the next few days as their investigations make progress.
Second-Year Running for Disturbances in Niddrie
It is the second consecutive year Niddrie has been the site of disturbances. Last year, as well as fireworks attacks, gangs on motorbikes terrorised the area.Edinburgh Council leader, Mr. Day said he was “appalled” by the scenes in Niddrie and added: “We’ve been clear that this sort of conduct is unacceptable. We’ve been working throughout the year in our communities to mitigate Bonfire Night-related disruption so it is extremely disappointing to see a minority of people behaving in this way.”
“This reckless behaviour endangers lives and, like the majority, I share in their dismay and upset at this disgraceful behaviour,” he added.
The Scottish Conservatives’ justice spokesman Russell Findlay said: “Such attacks on police officers are cowardly, reckless and dangerous. Police Scotland need sufficient resources to tackle these thugs.”
Bonfire Night is a celebration of the failure of a Catholic plot to kill the Protestant King James I and replace him with a puppet monarch.
Guy Fawkes, who was caught in the basement below Parliament, was later executed, but only after he was tortured and forced to reveal the names of eight other Catholic plotters who were also put to death.
Although Bonfire Night does have sectarian undertones in some parts of the country, sectarianism is not believed to have been to blame for the disorder in Niddrie.
