PA MediaViolent attacks on police have become almost an “anniversary” event in Edinburgh around Bonfire Night, a senior officer has said, after disorder broke out in the same area of the capital once again.
Chief Superintendent David Robertson said the police will leave “no stone unturned” to find those responsible for the firework-related violence in Niddrie and elsewhere on Halloween.
Additional officers are being deployed around Edinburgh over the weekend amid fears of further disorder.
Groups of youths targeted police vehicles with fireworks and other projectiles amid numerous reports of anti-social behaviour on Thursday night.
One female officer was injured when the window of the vehicle she was inside was smashed by a brick and local buses were also pelted with projectiles, police said.
A 14-year-old boy has been arrested and charged in connection with alleged fireworks offences.
Edinburgh City Council leader Cammy Day said he was “shocked and saddened” by the “mindless violence” on what should have been a family-friendly Halloween.
Mr Robertson said he is “furious” one of his colleagues was attacked, while acknowledging disorder around Bonfire Night has become a recurring theme in this part of Edinburgh.
He told journalists: “I think (Niddrie) has become a focal point, in truth.
“It feels as though that’s why – it’s almost become an anniversary type position, where it’s to attack police in Niddrie.
“That’s what these individuals are seeking to do.
“That’s how they get a sense of enjoyment, it’s about attacking the police.”
When similar disorder took place in Niddrie around Bonfire Night in 2022 and 2023, police later discovered many of those involved were from other parts of the city and its suburbs, he said.
For the first time, laws have come into effect creating firework control zones around Edinburgh, allowing police to seize pyrotechnics.
Mr Robertson said police will proactively be patrolling around the city to try and prevent more trouble, as he said “there is potential for us to see further disorder across the city across the weekend”.
Police Scotland’s national serious crime departments are now being used to trace those responsible for Thursday’s violence, he said.
The senior officer added: “No stone will be left unturned. We are mobilising everything that we have at our disposal to identify who’s responsible and bring them to justice as soon as possible.
“We are putting everything into this.”
Police also revealed a quantity of fireworks and petrol were seized at an address in the Magdalene Gardens area on Thursday after intelligence was received that it was going to be used to create disorder.
The trouble comes almost a year after similar firework-related disorder in the city led to 26 people being charged with a total of 51 offences around Bonfire Night.
The ages of those charged ranged between 12 and 34, with the majority in their mid to late teens.
Elsewhere in Scotland on Thursday night, youths were also believed to be behind a number of incidents in the Kirkton area of Dundee where fireworks were set off and other projectiles thrown.
Anyone with information on those involved in the disorder is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101.
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