Officers injured and dozen arrests made during Bonfire Night disorder

In total, 483 calls were received relating to fireworks offences on November 5.

Although this was a reduction on the 581 incidents recorded the previous year, Police Scotland said it was still “completely unacceptable” with a number of “significant crimes arising over the course of the evening”.

In addition to the 12 arrests, a further 15 people were dispersed from ‘Dispersal Zones’ and the force said further inquiries to identify more suspects will continue over the coming days and weeks.

The majority of serious incidents took place in Edinburgh, where members of the public, firefighters and police officers were all targeted by youths in possession of fireworks.

At around 8.40pm in the Sighthill suburb of the capital, local officers were in their vehicle when it was targeted by youths with bricks who smashed the vehicle’s windows. This resulted in both officers being injured and taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

One sustained a head injury that required stitches, while the other needed treatment for glass in their eye, said Police Scotland.

Earlier, approximately 100 youths threw fireworks at members of the public and vehicles in Marischal Road, Edinburgh, just before 7pm. Public order officers called in to support local policing teams were also targeted.

“A fire engine that was in attendance sustained a smashed window as a result of the disorder, though, thankfully, no one was injured,” Police Scotland said.

Officers on patrol in Ferry Road Drive, Edinburgh, at around 7.35pm were also targeted by a number of individuals throwing bricks at their vehicle.

Police Scotland said public order officers were called to the scene to provide support and a public order vehicle was subsequently damaged when a brick was thrown at the windscreen.

Further incidents were reported in the Drylaw area of Edinburgh between 9pm and 10pm when the fire service was initially attacked with fireworks while attempting to extinguish a wheelie bin fire on Ferry Road Drive, and had to withdraw.

Once again, Police Scotland said public order resources were deployed to support but were subjected to threats and fireworks being thrown by a number of youths, who were also armed with scaffolding poles and a baseball bat.

Further incidents were then reported in the area, after youths began throwing fireworks at members of the public and at Drylaw police station. No injuries were reported and no damage was sustained to the building.

At around 8.40pm, a police vehicle was attacked with bricks in the capital’s Niddrie suburb resulting in a window being smashed and an officer sustaining a minor cut to their lip.

An hour later in the Duddingston area, police vehicles had petrol bombs thrown at them by a number of youths. There were also incidents of roads being barricaded by the suspects, which required officers to attend and deal with. There were no injuries reported during these incidents, the force said.

Elsewhere, during a call-out to an illegal bonfire at Langside Street, Clydebank, members of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service were attacked by 20 youths using fireworks.

Police Scotland said public order officers were called in to disperse the group dispersed.

“One police vehicle sustained very minor damage and one male was arrested for assault and culpable and reckless conduct,” it added.

In Glasgow, a male outside the OVO Hydro arena threw a flare into a crowd of people. He was detained by security staff at the scene. Following police inquiries, two people were arrested in connection with this matter, said Police Scotland.

Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs, Gold commander for Operation Moonbeam – Police Scotland’s public order operation targeting fireworks-related disorder and anti-social behaviour – said: “Our initial analysis of the incidents arising on Bonfire Night show that, for the overwhelming majority of the country, people enjoyed the occasion safely and responsibly.

“However, in some areas, particularly Edinburgh, various individuals have shown blatant disregard for the safety of the public and the emergency services and have actively targeted police officers and firefighters during the course of their duties.

“This behaviour is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated. I want to make it abundantly clear that considerable follow-up inquiry will be conducted in relation to all of these incidents, utilising all resources at our disposal to identify those responsible and bring them to justice. Do not think that just because you evaded police on the night, that we won’t be knocking on your door in the near future.

“What the events of Saturday night demonstrate to me is the importance of having a robust frontline policing service that can be readily supported by national and specialist colleagues when required. Similarly, working in partnership with other emergency colleagues and local authorities is equally important to ensuring we are deploying the correct level of resource to the right areas at the right time.

“All of those who were on duty during Bonfire Night showed exceptional professionalism and dedication to protecting communities from harm during extremely difficult and challenging circumstances. I am grateful for all of their efforts.”

David Hamilton, chair of the Scottish Police Federation, condemned the “utter hooliganism” seen across Scotland”.

“Emergency services attacked, vehicles smashed up and police officers injured. Every year at bonfire season,” he said.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said five attacks on crews were recorded during another “challenging evening”, although no injuries have been reported.

It received 1,025 calls during an eight-hour period on Bonfire Night with operations control staff mobilising crews to 356 bonfires.

Assistant Chief Officer David Farries, director of service delivery for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, said: “It’s been another busy and challenging evening for our crews and operations control staff around Scotland and I thank them for their dedication.

“We are disappointed to report five attacks on our firefighters. In the run-up to Bonfire Night, we had spoken out about this kind of unacceptable behaviour by a small minority which sadly happens year after year. Our staff should be able to carry out their role without being attacked and it is disappointing that people have tried to hurt firefighters and have damaged our appliances and equipment.

“Crews only attend bonfire-related incidents when people contact us about concerns over public safety and we extinguish fires that are unsafe.

“We put a huge amount of planning and preparation into this evening with local partners and other emergency services as we work together to protect communities, which is always our top priority.”

Mr Mairs is urging anyone who has information relating to the offences to contact Police Scotland so it can “investigate appropriately”.