Violent attacks on police have become a recurring issue in Edinburgh around Bonfire Night, according to Chief Superintendent David Robertson. He expressed the police’s commitment to tracking down those responsible for the recent firework-related violence in Niddrie and other areas on Halloween. Additional officers have been deployed in Edinburgh over the weekend to prevent further disorder.
During the Halloween incident, groups of youths targeted police vehicles with fireworks and other objects, leading to reports of anti-social behavior. A female officer was injured when a brick smashed the window of the vehicle she was in, and local buses were also hit with projectiles. A 14-year-old boy has been arrested and charged in connection with alleged fireworks offenses.
Edinburgh City Council leader Cammy Day condemned the violence, stating that it was a disappointment to see such mindless acts on what should have been a family-friendly Halloween. Chief Superintendent Robertson expressed his anger over the attack on his colleague and acknowledged that disorder around Bonfire Night has become a tradition in Niddrie, where individuals target the police as a form of enjoyment.
In response to the incident, new laws have been implemented to establish firework control zones around Edinburgh, allowing police to confiscate fireworks. Chief Superintendent Robertson emphasized that the police will be actively patrolling the city to prevent further trouble, as there is a possibility of more disorder over the weekend.
Police Scotland’s national serious crime departments are now involved in tracing the individuals responsible for the Halloween violence. Chief Superintendent Robertson assured the public that no stone will be left unturned in identifying and bringing the perpetrators to justice promptly. Police seized a quantity of fireworks and petrol from an address in the Magdalene Gardens area following intelligence that they were intended for causing disorder.
Similar firework-related disorder in Edinburgh last year led to the charging of 26 people with a total of 51 offenses around Bonfire Night, with the majority being in their mid to late teens. In Dundee, incidents involving fireworks and projectiles were also reported in the Kirkton area on the same night.
Anyone with information on the individuals involved in the disorder is urged to contact Police Scotland on 101. The police are dedicated to investigating the incident and ensuring that those responsible are held accountable for their actions.