Police car set alight in Glasgow amid Bonfire Night trouble

Published5 November 2026

Seven people have been arrested during Bonfire Night disorder in parts of Scotland, police say.

A police officer and an ambulance staff member sustained minor injuries when they were attacked with fireworks while responding to a report of an injured man in Glasgow, according to Police Scotland.

A police vehicle was set alight and seriously damaged during the incident in the Greenside Street area, and a 16-year-old boy was arrested.

Police and members of the public were also targeted with fireworks in several areas of Edinburgh.

Fire service personnel came under attack in a number of towns while responding to calls but none were hurt and no serious damage was caused to fire engines.

"Police officers, ambulance staff and firefighters are there to protect communities – not be the target of violence," Chief Superintendent David Robertson said.

"I want to make it clear that thorough investigations will now take place to identify those responsible and bring them to justice."

He added that the policing operation covering the Halloween and Bonfire Night had been "one of the most complex and demanding deployments in recent memory involving the largest number of officers" since the visit of US President Donald Trump last year.

However, there had been a "reduction in serious incidents requiring... specialist resources" compared with the same period last year, he added.

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Police Scotland said they had received reports of youths "creating a blockage in the road" on Oxgangs Road North, Edinburgh, at about 17:30.

A spokesperson said: "Officers attended and fireworks were set off in their direction, but no injuries have been reported.

"Several small fires in bins and the park were extinguished by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service."

In Wester Hailes, the fire service attended a fire in a grass area near houses in Murrayburn Park.

Firefighters were called to the scene of a bonfire shortly after 19:00, with one fire engine called out to extinguish the flames.

Fireworks were also thrown at a fire appliance in Knightswood in Glasgow, while in Dundee, a public order unit was deployed after more than 100 young people gathered and started a fire on the road.

Reports suggest a crowd of approximately 50 people were launching fireworks and causing disorder.

A 15-year-old was taken to hospital in Alexandria after lighting a firework that exploded and damaged his eye.

Fire crews were also attacked in Castlemilk, Whitburn and Cumnock.

BBC Scotland was given access to the Strategic co-ordination centre at the Police HQ at Fettes.

A wall of CCTV cameras trained across Edinburgh and Glasgow flickered from empty streets to a packed Celtic stadium as officers watch for signs of disorder.

The atmosphere in the room was calm despite pockets of disorder - things seemed generally under control.

Information flashed up on screens with updates from Operation Moonbeam. As the evening progressed the screens filled up as public order units were deployed to more and more places.

Teams from Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Scottish Ambulance Service, the Scottish government and Edinburgh city council were in attendance.

Officers from as far afield as Avon and Somerset, Hampshire, Hertfordshire and South Wales were ready to be deployed.

Additional reporting by Paul Ward and Patrick Jackson.

Related topics

Scotland

Bonfire night

Fireworks

Police Scotland

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Edinburgh

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