Seven arrested and police car set alight during Bonfire Night violence in Scotland

Published5 November 2026

Seven people were arrested and a police van was set alight during Bonfire Night violence in parts of Scotland.

A police officer and an ambulance staff member also suffered minor injuries when they were attacked with fireworks while responding to a report of an injured man in Glasgow.

The police vehicle was completely burned-out during the incident in Greenside Street, in the Provanmill area of the city, 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 also came under attack in a number of towns while responding to calls.

No firefighters 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," Ch Supt 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."

Scotland's Education Secretary Mairi McAllan said any instances of disorder or attacks on the public or on emergency services were "completely unacceptable".

She told the BBC's Radio Scotland Breakfast programme: "Police Scotland were well prepared. Our emergency services were well prepared. The vast majority of displays went ahead without any problems, and that's to be welcomed.

"But nonetheless, I would want to be absolutely unequivocal. Totally unacceptable that any disorder related to fireworks should be ongoing."

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service received more than 1,172 calls relating to fireworks and bonfires between 17:30 and 23:30 and attended more than 767 incidents.

In Edinburgh, 21 dispersal orders were issued, with 13 given out in Glasgow. No-one was charged in relation to any breaches of Firework Control Zones.

Robertson said the policing operation covering 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.

Between 31 October and 5 November, a total of 1,024 fireworks-related calls were received. This is an increase from the 833 calls received in 2025, however there was a reduction in the number of incidents requiring a specialist public order response.

"While we have seen a rise in the overall number of calls relating to fireworks incidents between Halloween and Bonfire Night 2026, when compared to last year, I am encouraged by the reduction in serious incidents requiring us to mobilise specialist resources during this time," Robertson said.

"It's been heartening to see the positive level of community engagement and in many instances this has led to vital intelligence, which helped seize significant quantities of fireworks before they could be used for criminal activity and to disrupt the activities of those planning to involve themselves in disorder."

Fireworks were thrown at members of the public in Clydebank and there were attacks on fire crews in the Knightswood and Castlemilk areas of Glasgow, Cumnock in East Ayrshire, Larkhall in South Lanarkshire, and Blackridge in West Lothian.

Police said they had received reports of youths "creating a blockage in the road" on Oxgangs Road North in 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 a local park were extinguished.

In Wester Hailes, the fire service attended a fire in a grassed area near houses in Murrayburn Park shortly after 19:00.

Fireworks were also thrown at a fire engine in Knightswood in Glasgow, while in the Kirkton area of 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, West Dunbartonshire, after lighting a firework that exploded and damaged his eye.

Police had eyes trained on cameras around the country

BBC Scotland was given access to the strategic co-ordination centre at the police headquarters at Fettes in Edinburgh.

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

The atmosphere in the room was calm despite pockets of disorder - the situation seemed to be 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 an increasing number of places.

Teams from Police Scotland, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, the 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

Glasgow

Edinburgh

Colinton

Dundee

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