Edinburgh’s Fiery Showdown: Police Faced a Barrage of Fireworks, Bricks, and Bottles

Edinburgh's Bonfire Night this year was quite the explosive affair and not in a good way. With parts of the city turning into an impromptu battleground, police officers faced a storm of fireworks, bricks, and bottles thrown by groups of thrill-seeking youths. Edinburgh’s Gilmerton and Sighthill neighbourhoods saw particularly intense "celebrations" as riot police attempted to calm the chaos. Scottish Secretary Ian Murray labelled the scenes “disgraceful,” and Police Scotland introduced stop-and-search powers, aiming to keep rogue fireworks from falling into the wrong hands.

One can only imagine the disbelief of the officers stationed across Gilmerton and Sighthill as the streets erupted in Bonfire Night mayhem. This year, the local authorities were given new powers to declare certain areas "Firework Control Zones" in a bid to curb these seasonal antics, but that didn’t entirely prevent the pandemonium. Those zones, covering areas like Gracemount and Moredun, restrict private firework displays, hoping to dampen the yearly barrage. But Edinburgh's youths took a creative approach, using their arsenal of pyrotechnics on public streets and at buses and, at the police themselves.

Riot police rolled out in force, with backup resources including a helicopter joining the scene. The intention was clear calm the firestorm before it spread further. With roads blocked off and services like Lothian Buses rerouting for safety. This wasn’t a festive Bonfire Night; it was a fully-fledged Operation Moonbeam.

One thing is certain: this “firework” crisis is no small spark. Riot police had to manage roadblocks, public safety, and the sheer unpredictability of firework-tossing teens with something of a flair for pyrotechnics. At one point, 100 young people were allegedly throwing fireworks and bricks at officers with abandon. This has made Bonfire Night something that police officers dread rather than enjoy.

Meanwhile, some of these zones were symbolic at best, with other city areas enduring the same antics, despite restrictions. Pollokshields in Glasgow couldn’t avoid the firestorm when a stray firework struck a car. To add insult to injury, a council delay on finalising a ban in Pollokshields meant they missed out on a “Firework Control Zone” designation this year. A similar lapse in the Drumchapel area led to a 25-year-old being arrested with a van full of fireworks ready for what we can only assume would have been a controlled and sensible evening of family fun.

This comes on the heels of public calls to tighten regulations on firework sales, as underage teens often manage to get hold of fireworks despite age restrictions. Police found illegal fireworks stashes in properties, seizing fireworks from people attempting to sell them to underage customers. Given the damage, one can only wonder if these kids thought they'd signed up for some pyrotechnic combat exercise rather than a community celebration.

Transport was another casualty in all this, as operators like Lothian Buses took the “difficult decision” to pull their services in places like Niddrie, where buses and an open-top service for young people with disabilities became targets.

Of course, fireworks are here to stay, with many arguing they’re too deeply rooted in British tradition to be fully banned. But while city councils attempt to maintain order, Bonfire Night’s charm wears thin when the event goes from being a seasonal joy to an annual battle. Scottish Secretary Ian Murray has suggested a complete overhaul of fireworks sales, pushing for stricter regulation to keep them out of the hands of those looking for trouble.