This is the shocking moment when a firework was launched through a letterbox during disorder on the streets of Scotland last night.
Horrific scenes were witnessed across the country on Bonfire Night with streets locked down as youths hurled explosives at cars, businesses, and emergency crews. Riot cops were called out to deal with thugs in the Sighthill, Niddrie and Moredun areas in Edinburgh and officers and police vehicles had fireworks, bottles and bricks rained down on them.
Harrowing footage has now emerged of a lit firework being placed through a letterbox on a residential street. In the clip young yobs can be heard laughing as the item is posted into the home.
One of the thugs can be heard shouting and giggling and the pyrotechnic explodes with a huge flash inside the home. The extent of any damage or injuries as a result is currently unclear. It’s understood the incident is linked to disorder in Edinburgh on Tuesday night and the scenes have been described as “vile” by those on social media.
Violence seen across Scotland was branded by police as ‘wholly unacceptable’ after chaos erupted across the country. In Glasgow ‘small pockets’ of disorder was reported after youths were spotted launching fireworks towards oncoming traffic in Pollokshields.
Police across Scotland deployed Operation Moonbeam to deal with the carnage, while the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) say they had more than 1,000 calls come in. Police Scotland have not yet confirmed how many arrests have been made as a result of the incidents.
Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs, Gold Commander of Operation Moonbeam said: “I firstly want to recognise the outstanding courage and professionalism of all of those emergency service workers who put themselves in harm’s way to keep communities safe. Their actions ensured that some of the challenging scenes we witnessed this year did not escalate into mass disorder, on the scale of what we experienced last year.
“Nevertheless, the levels of violence and aggression police officers, fire service and ambulance service personnel faced in some areas was wholly unacceptable and a significant investigative response is now underway to identify each and every one of those involved and bring them to justice.”
The Record reported last night how gangs of masked youths targeted an Edinburgh petrol station and set fire to roads. Locals were left ‘terrified’ as the yobs marched down the street armed with ‘bats and fireworks’. Footage from the scene captured multiple fires being lit on the main road and fireworks being aimed at a nearby petrol station – sparking panic.
Yobs also hurled fireworks into a ‘dessert shop’ causing a huge explosion inside. A terrifying clip was filmed by a resident near Moredunvale Road. In Glasgow police raced to Pollokshields where thugs were spotted firing rockets at moving traffic. One resident took to social media saying that cops were “helplessly outnumbered”.
Andy Watt, Deputy Chief Officer for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “I would like to pay tribute to the professionalism and resilience of our frontline crews. Operations Control firefighters answered over 1,000 calls tonight and have once again worked tirelessly to ensure we respond to those who need us the most. Unfortunately, several of our crews came under attack across Scotland, with six attacks within three hours.
“Crews were bombarded with missiles and fireworks while responding to emergency incidents. These attacks prevent our crews from bringing any emergency to a safe and swift conclusion, and can impact on our emergency service colleagues – including the police when they must escort us at the scene.
“This type of behaviour is, of course, carried out by a very small minority and we once again thank our communities for their continuing support and working together with us to stay safe across the Bonfire period.”
Don’t miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond. Sign up to our daily newsletter.