Emergency Services Targeted Amidst Bonfire Night Disturbances

On Bonfire Night, firefighters reported being “bombarded” with missiles and fireworks, as their crews handled over 1,000 emergency calls. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service confirmed six instances of their teams being attacked: three in Clydebank, two in Edinburgh, and one in Blackridge in West Lothian. Police officers also encountered attacks involving fireworks, bricks, and bottles; however, authorities noted a reduction in serious disorder incidents compared to the previous year. The police force characterized the assaults on emergency services as “wholly unacceptable” and stated that officers are actively working to identify and locate those accountable. According to Andy Watt, deputy chief officer for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, these attacks hindered crews from responding to emergencies promptly. He stated: “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.” Law enforcement was dispatched to address disturbances in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and various other regions of the country. The force reported that significant gatherings of young people had formed in Niddrie, Sighthill, and Moredun in Edinburgh, where they launched fireworks, bottles, and bricks at both private cars and police vehicles. A police helicopter was deployed to aid in the operation. A 42-year-old mother residing on Hay Avenue informed the BBC that dozens of young individuals appeared on her street at 20:30 and commenced igniting fireworks. The woman, who requested anonymity, expressed concern that the group might shatter her window, citing a firework striking her property the previous year. She recounted: “Because it was so bad last year I asked my husband not to go to work so he could be with us this year.” George Pringle, a 72-year-old Niddrie resident who has resided on Hay Avenue for 10 years, reported hearing fireworks being discharged near his residence but opted to keep his curtains drawn. He commented: “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.” Earlier in the week, Mr. Pringle observed a substantial bonfire situated in the middle of the street directly outside his home. He described: “The flames were as high as a man and I saw about five teenagers around it.” He added: “There is nothing we can do about it. They need to stop selling them fireworks in the local shops.” In the western part of the city, the Macklin Motors Hyundai car dealership located on Calder Road became a target for vandals. Multiple car windows were broken, and vehicle bodywork sustained dents and scratches. Employees at an adjacent BP petrol station informed the BBC that they were compelled to seal off fuel pumps to avert a potential explosion, as fireworks were being propelled towards the neighboring restaurant. For the first time, control zones prohibiting the use of fireworks in specific areas of Edinburgh have been established and will remain active until 10 November. A comparable ban was intended for parts of Glasgow but has been postponed until next year because of a council error. Police reported isolated instances of disorder in Glasgow, where young people were seen throwing fireworks at members of the public, vehicles, and police officers. Video captured in Pollokshields, located in the city’s south side, depicted a group igniting fireworks in the center of the street. The Unison union stated that residents observed large groups of young men creating disturbances until 02:00, discharging “industrial-sized” fireworks at individuals, structures, and vehicles, and setting public property ablaze. Danny Phillips, an anti-fireworks campaigner and Pollokshields resident, labeled the situation the “worst firework disorder in years” and criticized the council for its failure to establish the control zone. He commented: “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.” Police confirmed that no injuries were reported in connection with incidents in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Following a search of a van in Drumchapel, a 25-year-old man was apprehended, and a “significant quantity” of fireworks was confiscated. The force indicated that these fireworks were being sold to the general public, including minors. Concurrently, in Peterhead around 21:20, a man was struck by a van operated by individuals who had just discharged a pyrotechnic in a skate park on Aalesund Road. The 33-year-old received treatment from paramedics at the location but did not require additional medical care. Two men, aged 62 and 57, have been taken into custody in relation to the incident. Gus Sproul, chair of the Fire Brigades Union in Scotland, noted a “concerning” rise in assaults against firefighters and attributed this to reductions in public services. Conversely, Police Scotland reported a decrease in serious disorder incidents this year. Under Operation Moonbeam, a police initiative established in 2020 to manage seasonal disorder, specialist resources were deployed 26 times on 5 November last year, compared to 18 deployments this year. The count of injured officers has also seen a substantial reduction, from 62 last year to one this year. Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs, who serves as the gold commander for Operation Moonbeam, stated that challenging situations did not escalate into widespread disorder as they did last year. He remarked: “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 further mentioned that discussions with local authorities and the Scottish government are continuing to investigate additional methods for reducing fireworks-related offenses in the future. First Minister John Swinney declared that attacks on emergency workers were “completely unacceptable,” 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.” Copyright 2024 BBC. 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