Bonfire Night disorder across Edinburgh – youths hurl fireworks at police and start fires

Large groups of youths have been throwing fireworks, bricks and bottles at police in Edinburgh, during a night of disorder across the city.

Video posted online shows officers responding to Bonfire Night incidents in the Sighthill, Niddrie, Gracemount and Gilmerton areas.

Riot police have been seen on the streets of Edinburgh, wearing helmets and carrying shields, as fireworks were lit and exploded around them.

Footage from Gilmerton, a suburb in the southeast of the city, also showed burning debris in the street as youths rode on bicycles.

Police were given extra stop and search powers in certain areas following “intelligence” about planned disorder and firework-related crime.

Superintendent Neil Wilson said: “We are currently responding to incidents of disorder involving large groups of youths throwing a range of objects, including fireworks, bricks and bottles, across Edinburgh.”

A helicopter was also deployed as part of Operation Moonbeam, aimed at supporting local police in tackling fireworks-related offences.

Meanwhile Lothian Buses withdrew all services from the Niddrie area for safety reasons.

Niddrie was also the scene of disorder on 31 October, when police and public transport vehicles were pelted with fireworks and bricks.

On Tuesday, officers in Glasgow seized a “significant quantity” of fireworks from a van in the Drumchapel area which it is alleged were being “sold to the general public, including children”.

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Scotland’s first fireworks control zones (FCZ) are in place in parts of Edinburgh and Glasgow from 1 to 10 November.

Those convicted of setting off a firework within a FCZ face a fine of up to £5,000 and up to six months in jail.

Meanwhile, it appears the famous Lewes bonfire night celebrations in East Sussex went off without incident after police urged people not to attend because of overcrowding concerns.

The so-called “bonfire capital of the world” is famous for burning effigies of controversial politicians and celebrities.

This year they included former Post Office chief executive Paula Vennells and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.