Disabled children's bus attacked and Police injured in Edinburgh Halloween fireworks attacks
Missiles - including fireworks and bricks - were thrown at emergency services in "disgusting" scenes from Niddrie
Last updated 1st Nov 2024
Several areas of Edinburgh faced road closures on Thursday night, as police responded to anti social behaviour incidents in Niddrie and across the city.
Police Scotland said vehicles were targeted with fireworks and missiles, including bricks.
It came less than 24 hours before new “dispersal zones” were set to come into effect, in the wake of exactly these sorts of scenes last Bonfire night…
It seems that locals had anticipated antisocial behaviour, with some charities and community organisations opting to close their doors earlier than normal until after November 5th - when the worst of this sort activity has tended to be focused in recent years.
Council leader Cammy Day said he was “shocked and saddened” but that he wants to “reassure residents the council will continue to work closely with police Scotland, particularly in the run up to bonfire night.
He said he’s meeting with Police and other agencies “to see what went on exactly last night and see what further actions we need to take over the next week”, Cammy Day said he hopes “the community will join us in condemning and shaming these disgraceful people”
We’re told as many as 16 buses were damaged and at least two police officers were injured. According to the Council leader, a bus carrying young people with disabilities was attacked too.
Sarah Boyd, Managing Director at Lothian buses said she was "deeply disappointed that our services were subject to attacks across our network last night, including a special open-top Halloween bus trip for families from our charity partner VOCAL."
"As a result of public disorder we were forced to remove services from a number of areas to ensure the safety of our people and our customers."
Police say they're continuing with their inquiries to identify those involved.
They say a police officer was injured after the window of the vehicle she was within was struck by a brick, causing the window to smash.
Further incidents of fireworks related disorder were also responded at Moredunvale Road, Southhouse Road and Captains Road as well as West Pilton Park, where a number of busses were targeted.
A 14-year-old male has been arrested and charged in connection with fireworks offences. Further enquiries are ongoing to identify those involved in the disorder.
Following intelligence relating to planned disorder, a warrant was executed at an address in Magdalene Gardens during the afternoon of Thursday, 31 October. A quantity of fireworks and two cans of petrol were recovered from inside. Enquiries into this recovery are ongoing.
Chief Superintendent David Robertson, commander for Edinburgh Division said: “The disorder witnessed this evening was carried out by a minority of individuals intent on causing fear and alarm within their communities and subjecting emergency service workers to horrific levels of violence and aggression.
“Thankfully, local policing teams were bolstered with specialist colleagues, who helped bring these incidents to a safe conclusion and investigations are underway to identify everyone who was involved.
“I want to make it clear to anyone who thinks they will evade justice because they weren’t apprehended this evening, they are very much mistaken. You will be identified during our inquiries, and you will be held to account for your actions.
“Our local policing teams will continue to be supported by Operation Moonbeam resources over the next week to ensure any further incidents of disorder or fireworks-related criminality are appropriately dealt with.”
Anyone with information is asked to come forward and enquiries are continuing to identify those responsible.
Dispersal zones giving police additional temporary powers, go live from 2pm Friday until midnight on November 5th.