Bonfire Night turns into 'warzone' as youths attack shop and riot police in Edinburgh
Fireworks directed at police nearly hit young children, according to one eyewitness
What had started out as a quiet Bonfire Night descended into a “warzone” in parts of south Edinburgh last night as youths attacked a shop, set fires outside homes and aimed fireworks at riot police.
Disorder broke out in the Colinton Mains, Oxgangs and Firrhill areas of the city on Thursday evening, with a police helicopter deployed as the unrest escalated.
During the chaos, an Evening News photographer covering the disorder was forced to run for cover into a nearby flat as youths aimed fireworks at a responding fire engine.
One local described returning from a family meal to find their community “on fire”, with a group attempting to “burn out” a Scotmid store.
They said: “The guy in Scotmid had to pull the shutters down because the kids were trying to burn the place out, launching fireworks and smashing bottles off the windows. There were multiple families outside Scotmid sweeping up smashed glass.
“When I drove to my own street on Oxgangs Crescent we noticed 30 to 50 officers in full riot gear on Oxgangs Drive, trying to set up barricades and defuse the situation.
“We then drove around to Spruce Way where we noticed fires right outside of disabled people’s homes. Having disabled kids ourselves, this made us feel very vulnerable and helpless for our community.
“The kids also burnt out the newly repaired football pitches in Colinton Mains Park. We have lived here for 13 years since the area was newly built and have never seen anything like this. We thank the police officers for keeping people safe in this horrible situation.”
Another resident said fireworks were aimed at a police van and ended up hitting their house, forcing their pets to hide in the bathroom.
They said families with young children were also targeted, adding: “They were just walking along the street looking for a few little fireworks here and there and they were targeted because these people don’t care.
“It’s mainly the police they’re interested in, they like the chase, the adrenaline of that. It’s completely targeted at anyone who’s in uniform for sure.”
Police Scotland said officers were called to Oxgangs Road North at about 5.30pm after receiving reports of youths on bicycles blocking the road.
A total of 14 firework control zones (FCZs) were in place across Edinburgh in a bid to prevent the levels of unrest witnessed in previous years. Oxgangs, however, was not included, although a police dispersal zone was enforced.
Questioning the lack of an FCZ, the second Oxgangs resident said: “Everybody knew this was going to happen so I don’t know why the police didn’t come and set up earlier.”
They added they were not optimistic those involved would be brought to justice, saying: "I doubt there will be anyone caught there. There has never been and that is why they do it year after year and they just get bigger and more braver.”
Prior to the unrest, Superintendent Neil Wilson warned that throwing pyrotechnics was “an act of culpable and reckless conduct that can cause life-altering injuries or worse”.
The FCZs, which make it illegal to set off private fireworks, remain in place across designated areas of the city until November 8.