Riot police were pelted with fireworks during a surge of Bonfire Night violence in Niddrie, escalating tensions on Tuesday evening. Specialist officers were deployed in an attempt to prevent a repeat of the previous year’s chaos.
A line of riot squad members, helmed and armed with shields, reportedly faced a barrage of fireworks just before 9.30 pm from miscreants who then bolted into the adjacent neighbourhood.
Journalist Iona Young took to social media, saying: “There was a barricade of riot police before the shower of rockets were fired at them but they were gone when it stopped and the group stormed towards Craigmillar.”
In another part of town, hooligans ran amok in Broomhouse, swinging bats and sticks, wreaking havoc on cars.
READ MORE: TV news presenter dies aged 39 as family says ‘his impact will last forever’
Elsewhere, youths on Calder Road utilised wheelie bins to set up roadblocks, subsequently launching fireworks at passing vehicles. In earlier incidents, police were called to scenes where vehicles were hammered by fireworks in Niddrie, prompting the dispatch of additional forces to stunt the disorder, reports Edinburgh Live.
Lothian buses confirmed detours are operational at places like Calder Road, Drumbrae, Gilmerton, and Gracemount due to the unrest.