Shop workers in Edinburgh were left fearing for their lives amidst Bonfire Night terror.
Masked thugs launched a violent attack on Sugar and Treats on Moredunvale Road, in the Moredun area of the capital.
A gang of around 40, all dressed in dark clothing, attempted to raid the shop. Shocking CCTV footage shows the gang rush into the sheltered seating area and light fireworks, which they then throw at the front door of the shop. The gang also pelt bricks and rocks at a window.
One balaclava wearing thug is then seen lighting a firework before throwing it in the corner of the seating area. He also lifts up a chair and launches it at the front window.
The fireworks exploded, sending sparks flying and bouncing off the walls just outside the front entrance as two members of staff cowered in fear inside. Another worker appears whilst the remnants of another firework can be seen with a live spark still spotted at the corner of the wall.
Dessert shop boss Usmaan Irshad, 31, has blasted the yobs as he fears traumatised staff are going to quit following “war-zone” scenes.
Usmaan told the Record: “My staff were fearing for their lives. I had two young students working in there last night, they were both terrified.
“They had to lock the door and hide as these thugs tried to break in and launched bricks.
“Someone could have been killed. I am so lucky the firework never got inside the shop. The fireworks could have scolded my staff and set fire to the shop.
“It’s been a full week of attacks on the shop. I am sick of it. Nights like this have become the norm. On Halloween, my staff had to dodge a glass bottle filled a firework that exploded in the shop.”
Usmaan, who runs a Premier convenience shop next door to Sugar and Treats, says staff in the other shop tried to reason with the gang before violence erupted.
He said: “They were walking around carrying a bag filled with rocks and bricks. It was organised, they were out to cause as much trouble as possible.
“One of my staff tried to reason with them. They launched bricks at him and he took one on the back. He’s okay now but he’s lucky it never hit his head, it could have killed him.
“These lads who are doing this don’t realise how much they are putting lives at risk. They are all local, but they are masked up and think they are untouchable.”
Another worker also had their car vandalised, whilst his girlfriend sat petrified in the motor.
Usmaan added: “After they attacked the shop they went outside and battered another worker’s car. His girlfriend was in it at the time but they just battered it, they didn’t care.”
Usmaan, who estimates the cost of damage to be up to £1,000, has called for strong action following the disorder and has penned a letter to his MP, MSP and local councillors.
He added: “It’s like we’re living in a third world country, it’s a war-zone. It’s completely lawless.
“I’ll be lucky to keep my staff now, no one is going to want to work in a situation like that. I need to pay out £1,000 to fix the damage and the broken window will need completely replaced.”
Police Scotland were contacted for comment.
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