POLICE Scotland have said incidents of serious disorder during Bonfire Night have fallen this year.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service have reported six incidents - three in Clydebank, two in Edinburgh and one in Blackridge in West Lothian - where crews were attacked.
Officers described the attacks as "wholly unacceptable", and are currently attempting to trace those responsible. Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs promised arrests would be made in the coming days and weeks.
The force said overall number of fireworks-related calls remained consistent to previous years, however, the number of officers injured has reduced significantly, compared to last year.
The BBC has reported firefighters responded to more than 1000 calls.
Officers in Edinburgh responded to various incidents of youth disorder in Niddrie, Sighthill and Moredun. Large groups gathered in these areas before throwing fireworks, bottles and bricks at police vehicles and other cars. Two fire service appliances were also attacked during this time.
No injuries to emergency service workers or members of the public were reported.
Various parts of Glasgow also experienced pockets of disorder, with youths witnessed throwing fireworks at members of the public, vehicles and police officers. There were also four incidents of fire appliances being subjected to attacks when responding to calls. Again, however, no injuries were reported.
In Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, a pyrotechnic device was ignited within a skate park in Aalesund Road at around 9.20pm. Those responsible then made off in a van before striking a 33-year-old male pedestrian and fleeing the scene.
The male was treated by paramedics at the scene but did not require further medical attention.
Two men aged 57 and 62 have been arrested in connection to the incident.
In 2023, specialist resources as part of Operation Moonbeam were deployed on 26 separate occasions during the evening of November 5. This year, 18 deployments were required during the same period.
Last year, 62 officers sustained injuries after being targeted with fireworks and other projectiles.
This year, one officer was injured on Halloween evening after a brick was thrown through the window of her police vehicle in Edinburgh, and no further injuries to officers have so far been reported. One person was arrested and charged in relation to this assault.
Assistant Chief Constable Mairs, gold commander for 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.
“In advance of Bonfire Night 2024, local policing teams across Scotland have worked diligently with local authority and third sector partners to make positive in-roads with communities and identify some of the root causes that lead to disorder. In addition, this engagement has resulted in an increase in the intelligence we have received from the public, allowing us to take preventative enforcement action before crimes could occur.
“Throughout Operation Moonbeam, we have utilised all legislation and policing powers at our disposal and we will continue our discussions with local authorities and Scottish Government to explore further opportunities for reducing fireworks offences for next year and moving forward.”
