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| Firefighters attacked during Bonfire Night disorder | Firefighters attacked during Bonfire Night disorder |
| (33 minutes later) | |
| Watch: Fireworks set off on Scottish streets on Bonfire Night | Watch: Fireworks set off on Scottish streets on Bonfire Night |
| Firefighters say they were "bombarded" by missiles and fireworks on Bonfire Night, while crews responded to more than 1,000 emergency calls. | Firefighters say they were "bombarded" by missiles and fireworks on Bonfire Night, while crews responded to more than 1,000 emergency calls. |
| The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said there were six incidents where teams were attacked - three in Clydebank, two in Edinburgh and one in Blackridge in West Lothian. | The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said there were six incidents where teams were attacked - three in Clydebank, two in Edinburgh and one in Blackridge in West Lothian. |
| Police officers were also attacked with fireworks, bricks and bottles but said incidents of serious disorder had fallen this year. | Police officers were also attacked with fireworks, bricks and bottles but said incidents of serious disorder had fallen this year. |
| The force said the attacks on emergency services were "wholly unacceptable" and officers were working to trace those responsible. | The force said the attacks on emergency services were "wholly unacceptable" and officers were working to trace those responsible. |
| Andy Watt, deputy chief officer for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, said the attacks prevented crews from dealing with emergencies swiftly. | Andy Watt, deputy chief officer for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, said the attacks prevented crews from dealing with emergencies swiftly. |
| He said: "This type of behaviour is, of course, carried out by a very small minority and we once again thank our communities for their continuing support and working together with us to stay safe across the Bonfire period.” | He said: "This type of behaviour is, of course, carried out by a very small minority and we once again thank our communities for their continuing support and working together with us to stay safe across the Bonfire period.” |
| Police were called to tackle disorder in Edinburgh, Glasgow and other parts of the country. | Police were called to tackle disorder in Edinburgh, Glasgow and other parts of the country. |
| The force said large groups of youths had gathered in Niddrie, Sighthill and Moredun in Edinburgh and thrown fireworks, bottles and bricks at cars and police vehicles. | The force said large groups of youths had gathered in Niddrie, Sighthill and Moredun in Edinburgh and thrown fireworks, bottles and bricks at cars and police vehicles. |
| A police helicopter was brought in to assist with the operation. | A police helicopter was brought in to assist with the operation. |
| Masked youths faced off with police officers in Edinburgh | Masked youths faced off with police officers in Edinburgh |
| A large group of youths gathered on Hay Avenue on Tuesday evening | A large group of youths gathered on Hay Avenue on Tuesday evening |
| A 42-year-old mother who lives on Hay Avenue told the BBC that dozens of young people arrived on her street at 20:30 and began setting off fireworks. | A 42-year-old mother who lives on Hay Avenue told the BBC that dozens of young people arrived on her street at 20:30 and began setting off fireworks. |
| The woman, who asked not to be named, said she feared the group would break her window because a firework had hit her property last year. | The woman, who asked not to be named, said she feared the group would break her window because a firework had hit her property last year. |
| “Because it was so bad last year I asked my husband not to go to work so he could be with us this year," she said. | “Because it was so bad last year I asked my husband not to go to work so he could be with us this year," she said. |
| Niddrie resident George Pringle, 72, has lived on Hay Avenue for 10 years - he heard fireworks being set off near his home but kept his curtains closed. | Niddrie resident George Pringle, 72, has lived on Hay Avenue for 10 years - he heard fireworks being set off near his home but kept his curtains closed. |
| "I could hear big bangs which were setting off the car alarms," he said. "I just turned the TV up and let them get on with it." | "I could hear big bangs which were setting off the car alarms," he said. "I just turned the TV up and let them get on with it." |
| George Pringle witnessed a bonfire in the middle of the road outside his house | George Pringle witnessed a bonfire in the middle of the road outside his house |
| Fireworks are hurled at police officers in riot gear in Niddrie | Fireworks are hurled at police officers in riot gear in Niddrie |
| Earlier this week Mr Pringle witnessed a large bonfire in the middle of the street outside his house. | Earlier this week Mr Pringle witnessed a large bonfire in the middle of the street outside his house. |
| “The flames were as high as a man and I saw about five teenagers around it," he said. | “The flames were as high as a man and I saw about five teenagers around it," he said. |
| “There is nothing we can do about it. They need to stop selling them fireworks in the local shops.” | “There is nothing we can do about it. They need to stop selling them fireworks in the local shops.” |
| In the west of the city, the Macklin Motors Hyundai car dealership on Calder Road was targeted by vandals. | In the west of the city, the Macklin Motors Hyundai car dealership on Calder Road was targeted by vandals. |
| Several car windows were smashed and bodywork was dented and scratched. | Several car windows were smashed and bodywork was dented and scratched. |
| Vandals smashed car windows at the dealership on Calder Road | Vandals smashed car windows at the dealership on Calder Road |
| Staff at a nearby BP petrol station told the BBC they had to seal off pumps to prevent an explosion as fireworks were being launched into the restaurant next door. | Staff at a nearby BP petrol station told the BBC they had to seal off pumps to prevent an explosion as fireworks were being launched into the restaurant next door. |
| Control zones banning the use of fireworks in certain areas of Edinburgh are in place until 10 November for the first time. | Control zones banning the use of fireworks in certain areas of Edinburgh are in place until 10 November for the first time. |
| Parts of Glasgow were due to be covered by a similar ban but it was was delayed until next year due to a council error. | Parts of Glasgow were due to be covered by a similar ban but it was was delayed until next year due to a council error. |
| Police said there were pockets of disorder in Glasgow, with youths throwing fireworks at members of the public, vehicles and police officers. | Police said there were pockets of disorder in Glasgow, with youths throwing fireworks at members of the public, vehicles and police officers. |
| Footage taken in Pollokshields, in the south side of the city, showed fireworks being set off by a group in the middle of the street. | Footage taken in Pollokshields, in the south side of the city, showed fireworks being set off by a group in the middle of the street. |
| The Unison union said residents had seen large groups of young men causing disorder until 02:00, firing "industrial-sized" fireworks at people, buildings and cars, and setting fire to public property. | The Unison union said residents had seen large groups of young men causing disorder until 02:00, firing "industrial-sized" fireworks at people, buildings and cars, and setting fire to public property. |
| A clean-up takes place on Albert Drive in Pollokshields | A clean-up takes place on Albert Drive in Pollokshields |
| Anti-fireworks campaigner and Pollokshields resident Danny Phillips called it the "worst firework disorder in years" and criticised the council for failing to implement the control zone. | Anti-fireworks campaigner and Pollokshields resident Danny Phillips called it the "worst firework disorder in years" and criticised the council for failing to implement the control zone. |
| He said: “We warned them that this would happen again. The city council’s incompetent blunder, failing to implement our no firework zone, has had a very heavy cost." | He said: “We warned them that this would happen again. The city council’s incompetent blunder, failing to implement our no firework zone, has had a very heavy cost." |
| No one was injured in incidents in Glasgow and Edinburgh, police confirmed. | No one was injured in incidents in Glasgow and Edinburgh, police confirmed. |
| A 25-year-old man was arrested and a "significant quantity" of fireworks seized after a search of a van in Drumchapel. | A 25-year-old man was arrested and a "significant quantity" of fireworks seized after a search of a van in Drumchapel. |
| The force said the fireworks were being sold to the general public, including to under-age children. | The force said the fireworks were being sold to the general public, including to under-age children. |
| Meanwhile, in Peterhead at about 21:20, a man was hit by a van driven by individuals who, moments before, had set off a pyrotechnic in a skate park in Aalesund Road. | Meanwhile, in Peterhead at about 21:20, a man was hit by a van driven by individuals who, moments before, had set off a pyrotechnic in a skate park in Aalesund Road. |
| The 33-year-old was treated by paramedics at the scene but did not need further medical attention. | The 33-year-old was treated by paramedics at the scene but did not need further medical attention. |
| Two men, aged 62 and 57, have been arrested in connection with the incident. | Two men, aged 62 and 57, have been arrested in connection with the incident. |
| 'Significant' investigations | 'Significant' investigations |
| Gus Sproul, chair of the Fire Brigades Union in Scotland, said there had been a "concerning" increase in the number of attacks on firefighters and blamed cuts to public services. | Gus Sproul, chair of the Fire Brigades Union in Scotland, said there had been a "concerning" increase in the number of attacks on firefighters and blamed cuts to public services. |
| However Police Scotland said the incidents of serious disorder had fallen this year. | However Police Scotland said the incidents of serious disorder had fallen this year. |
| As part of Operation Moonbeam, a police operation launched in 2020 to deal with disorder at this time of year, specialist resources were deployed 26 times on 5 November last year - this year there were 18 deployments. | As part of Operation Moonbeam, a police operation launched in 2020 to deal with disorder at this time of year, specialist resources were deployed 26 times on 5 November last year - this year there were 18 deployments. |
| The number of injured officers has also reduced significantly - 62 last year compared to one this year. | The number of injured officers has also reduced significantly - 62 last year compared to one this year. |
| Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs, gold commander for Operation Moonbeam said challenging scenes had not escalated to mass disorder as it had last year. | Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs, gold commander for Operation Moonbeam said challenging scenes had not escalated to mass disorder as it had last year. |
| He said: "Nevertheless, the levels of violence and aggression police officers, fire service and ambulance service personnel faced in some areas was wholly unacceptable and a significant investigative response is now underway to identify each and every one of those involved and bring them to justice." | He said: "Nevertheless, the levels of violence and aggression police officers, fire service and ambulance service personnel faced in some areas was wholly unacceptable and a significant investigative response is now underway to identify each and every one of those involved and bring them to justice." |
| He added that discussions with local authorities and the Scottish government were ongoing to explore more ways to reduce fireworks offences in future. | He added that discussions with local authorities and the Scottish government were ongoing to explore more ways to reduce fireworks offences in future. |
| First Minister John Swinney said it was "completely unacceptable" for emergency workers to be attacked, adding: "I think the fact that we’ve had a lower incidence of events as a consequence of fireworks gives me encouragement that the steps we are taking are having an effect." | |
| Get in touch | Get in touch |
| Were you affected by firework display disruptions or disorder? Get in touch. | Were you affected by firework display disruptions or disorder? Get in touch. |