Scotland's Bonfire Night scenes of shame as communities left in fear
Scottish streets have hosted a new Bonfire Night tradition of riots and disorder.
The sight of a burning car in the middle of a street in Pollokshields sparked fears that a full-blown riot was about to kick off.
Fireworks were also aimed at cars and police cars as a terrifying escalation kicked in.
READ MORE: Bonfire Night carnage cops arrest four schoolkids in dramatic early morning raids
The powderkeg scenes were so alarming that police left the thugs to it, lest they provoked even worse violence.
Things were no better in Edinburgh, leading leader Cammy Day to call for an outright ban on fireworks- which would be matter reserved for the UK government.
“Alarming and dangerous” behaviour in several capital hotspots included police being targeted with powerful and potentially lethal fireworks, bricks and bottles.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service received 1,000 calls across the country and its crews were attacked in Clydebank, Edinburgh and Blackridge, West Lothian.
Edinburgh City Council imposed control zones - allowed by the recent Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act of June 2022 - in Balerno, Calton Hill, Niddrie and Seafield.
But the yobs took no notice, taking to the streets in masks and making parts of Niddrie, Sighthill, Wester Hailes, Gracemount and Moredun no-go areas.
Scottish Green MSP Maggie Chapman said the death of red panda Roxie at Edinburgh Zoo “should be the final straw for the Scottish Government and councils to take action against firework sales.”
Police Scotland released disturbing aerial footage of disorder involving fireworks in Edinburgh on Bonfire Night as investigations continued.
Although a firework control zone was planned for Pollokshields, the necessary paperwork was not lodged in time and so it could not be enforced.
Between 31 October and 6 November, 19 arrests had been made throughout Scotland in connection with firework offences.
Some were charged under the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles Act, others were charged with associated criminality.
New rules Scottish law changed in 2022 so that most fireworks may only be used without a licence in private places, such as gardens, and not before 6pm or after 11pm.
The exceptions are Bonfire Night, when they can be used until midnight, and New Year’s Eve, the night of Chinese New Year, and Diwali until 1am.
Councils are also able to set up firework control zones where it is illegal to set off fireworks anywhere, including on private property, except for small items such as sparklers, crackers or party poppers.
Public licensed displays are not covered by the zone rules.
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