Terrifying thugs target tour of disabled children with rockets

Fireworks thugs clashed with police amid disruption across Scotland which saw a female officer injured and vehicles damaged.

Gangs of yobs targeted police who were responding to reports of antisocial behaviour in the Niddrie area of Edinburgh.

The officer was hurt when a brick smashed the window of her vehicle, while buses were pelted with projectiles.

There was also disorder in Glasgow and Dundee on Thursday, which it is feared could increase at a time when rank-and-file officers have vowed not to work beyond rostered hours in a row over pay.

It comes after the SNP government launched a crackdown by allowing local authorities to implement firework control zones (FCZs) following a major riot in Dundee last year.

Tory community safety spokesman Sharon Dowey said the ‘awful events’ mirrored similar ‘scenes of carnage in Edinburgh last year’ and were ‘completely unacceptable’. 

She added: ‘Our overstretched police officers should never have to accept being targeted by dangerous thugs. There must be a zero-tolerance approach to this behaviour.’

Read More

Edinburgh fireworks yobs target disabled youngsters on open-top bus and injure female police officer on night of violence

The City of Edinburgh Council became the first in Scotland to vote for implementing FCZs in Niddrie, Balerno, Calton Hill and Seafield. The measures run to November 10, with anyone setting off a private firework during this period deemed to have committed a criminal offence.

An open-top bus carrying youngsters with disabilities was also targeted with fireworks near the Dynamic Earth attraction, next to the Scottish parliament.

In the Pollokshields area of Glasgow on Thursday, around 40 hooded youths threw fireworks in the streets and at properties.

A fireworks ban had been planned for the area but it was delayed after Glasgow City Council missed a legal deadline.

A police spokesman said: ‘Officers attended and there were no injuries reported.’

Meanwhile, a 14-year-old boy has been arrested and charged in connection with alleged fireworks offences in Niddrie. Further inquiries are ongoing.

Police said a quantity of fireworks and petrol were seized at an address in the capital’s Magdalene Gardens area. Lothian Buses withdrew at least nine services due to antisocial behaviour. Managing director Sarah Boyd said this was ‘to ensure the safety of our people and our customers’.

Police also responded to incidents at Moredunvale Road, Southhouse Road, Captain’s Road and West Pilton Park. Edinburgh council leader Cammy Day said a total of 16 vehicles from the Lothian bus fleet were damaged.

He told the BBC it was a ‘horrible’ night for the city and branded the behaviour ‘despicable’.

Firework-related disorder in the city last year led to 26 people being charged with a total of 51 offences around Bonfire Night.

Police commander for Edinburgh division, Chief Superintendent David Robertson, said ‘a minority of individuals’ had subjected emergency service workers to ‘horrific levels of violence’.

He added: ‘Investigations are under way to identify everyone who was involved.’

A Dundee City Council spokesman said: ‘No FCZs have been proposed in Dundee and therefore no formal consultation has taken place.’

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service deputy chief officer Andy Watt urged people to enjoy celebrations but to think of the safety of others, including fire crews ‘who are working hard to respond to emergencies’.

Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown said attacks on emergency services personnel were ‘utterly despicable’.