Boy, 14, charged after Edinburgh violence saw bricks and fireworks hurled at officers

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A 14-year-old boy has been arrested as cops saw violence erupt in Edinburgh last night, with bricks and fireworks being hurled in the street.

On Halloween night, local officers, supported by specialist colleagues from Operation Moonbeam, raced to Hay Avenue in the capital after receiving reports of youth disorder. Reports were made of police vehicles and public transport being attacked with fireworks and missiles, including bricks.

Police put up road closures at Niddrie Mains Road and Duddingston Park South, and the junction of Niddrie Mains Road and Greendykes Road, which have since reopened.

A female police officer was injured after the window of her vehicle she was within was struck by a brick, causing the window to smash. Further incidents of fireworks-related disorder also took place at Moredunvale Road, Southhouse Road and Captains Road as well as West Pilton Park, where several busses were targeted.

A 14-year-old male has since been arrested and charged in connection with fireworks offences. Following intelligence relating to the planned disorder, a warrant was executed at an address in Magdalene Gardens during the afternoon of Thursday, October 31.

A quantity of fireworks and two cans of petrol were recovered from inside. Enquiries into this recovery are ongoing. Further enquiries are ongoing to identify those involved in the disorder.

The violence comes as Edinburgh City Council leader Cammy Day has called for a ban on the public selling of fireworks, citing the need to avoid repeating "shocking scenes" in the city from last year.

On November 5, 2023, emergency personnel were injured in a disturbance in Edinburgh's Niddrie estate, with film footage showing fireworks and petrol bombs being thrown at riot police.

Day said he would write to the Crown Office "to ask for tougher sentences for those found guilty of committing these crimes" in addition to advocating for a review of legislation.

Firework Control Zones (FCZs) have been established in four parts of Edinburgh - Niddrie, Calton Hill, Seafield, and Balerno - making it illegal to use most fireworks between November 1 and 10, unless they are part of a licensed display.

Chief Superintendent David Robertson, commander for Edinburgh Division said: “The disorder witnessed this evening was carried out by a minority of individuals intent on causing fear and alarm within their communities and subjecting emergency service workers to horrific levels of violence and aggression.

“Thankfully, local policing teams were bolstered with specialist colleagues, who helped bring these incidents to a safe conclusion and investigations are underway to identify everyone who was involved. I want to make it clear to anyone who thinks they will evade justice because they weren’t apprehended this evening, they are very much mistaken. You will be identified during our inquiries, and you will be held to account for your actions.

“Our local policing teams will continue to be supported by Operation Moonbeam resources over the next week to ensure any further incidents of disorder or fireworks-related criminality are appropriately dealt with.”

Anyone with information is asked to come forward as enquiries continue to identify those responsible.

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