Emergency services attacked with fireworks on Bonfire Night in Glasgow and North Shields
Police and ambulance crews were targeted with fireworks, bricks and missiles on Bonfire Night in Glasgow and North Shields. A police van was set alight in Glasgow and one arrest was made.
Riot police deployed as Bonfire Night violence erupts across UK
Emergency services came under attack in multiple parts of the UK on Bonfire Night, with fireworks, bricks and missiles hurled at officers and ambulance crews in Glasgow and North Shields, the Daily Express reports.
In Glasgow, police were called to Greenside Street in the Provanmill area at around 7.55pm on Thursday, 5 November, after reports of an injured man on the street. Ambulance crews arrived alongside officers, but shortly after reaching the scene both crews were targeted with fireworks. A police van was set alight and seriously damaged, and one member of ambulance staff sustained a minor injury.
Specialist officers from Operation Amberlight — a taskforce established to protect other emergency crews — were deployed to the area. One man was arrested. A Police Scotland statement confirmed: "During this time, both crews were targeted with fireworks, resulting in a police vehicle being set alight and seriously damaged. Inquiries are ongoing, and police maintain a presence in the area."
Video footage from the scene showed large flames leaping from the burnt-out police van in the middle of the street, with smoke billowing from the vehicle as debris lay scattered across the road. A masked group, dressed in all black, was also filmed firing multiple rockets into the air in front of a block of flats in Glasgow's east end, in the Carntyne area.
In the Colinton area of Edinburgh, a separate group torched bins and launched fireworks at police officers and firefighters. A force spokesperson said officers received a report at around 5.30pm of youths creating a blockage on Oxgangs Road North. The police helicopter was deployed to assist as officers moved in to disperse the group. No injuries were reported during that incident.
---
In North Shields, riot police descended on the Meadow Well estate after what Northumbria Police described as "pre-arranged" disorder. Officers responding to the scene on Waterville Road were subjected to bricks, missiles and fireworks thrown at them.
Northumbria Police said the violence was linked to misinformation circulating in the community — specifically, false claims that a newly completed building was to be used as a house in multiple occupation (HMO). In fact, the site is planned for use as a supermarket. The force issued a statement urging residents not to speculate further: "We are sharing this information to stop speculation in the community which may lead to further disorder."
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness condemned the scenes in strong terms. "I'm disgusted by scenes of clearly pre-arranged violence in Meadow Well tonight, carried out by a minority of idiots," she said. "These thugs apparently thought they were attacking a planned HMO, when in fact, it was destined to be a supermarket. This dangerous misinformation and the way it spreads needs to be tackled and the stupidity has to stop — there is no excuse for it."
McGuinness also paid tribute to the emergency services who responded. "Northumbria Police and Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service go to work every day to protect us. They deserve better than this and so do the residents of Meadow Well who have had to endure it."
Photographs and videos from the Meadow Well area showed large groups gathered as fireworks were directed at a building and at police officers attempting to restore order.
Northumbria Police confirmed they are working to identify those responsible and said they will deal with offenders "robustly." The force asked anyone with information to contact them directly, quoting reference NP-20261105-0493.
Source: Daily Express