Police Scotland were well prepared. Our emergency services were well prepared. The vast majority of displays went ahead without any problems, and that's to be welcomed,
Mairi McAllan, Scotland’s Education Secretary, told the BBC.
A police vehicle was set alight and seriously damaged in Glasgow during Bonfire Night. A 16-year-old boy was arrested following the attack on the vehicle in the Greenside Street area of Provanmill.
Violence Targets Emergency Responders
Emergency personnel faced multiple attacks across the country. In Glasgow, a police officer and an ambulance staff member sustained minor injuries while responding to a report of an injured man. The Scottish Ambulance Service also attended the scene where the police vehicle was targeted.
In Glasgow city centre, a large group of men
attacked officers on patrol. This forced the deployment of specialist resources under Operation Amberlight, leading to one arrest.
Fireworks were launched at officers on Oxgangs Road North in Edinburgh after reports of youths creating a blockage in the road
. More fireworks were directed at police in the south of Edinburgh near Colinton Mains, where bins were overturned and set on fire in the roadway. In Alexandria, a 15-year-old was hospitalized after a firework exploded and caused damage to his eye.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service received more than 800 calls regarding bonfires and fireworks between 17:30 and 23:30. No firefighters were injured and no fire engines sustained serious damage.
Police Calls Increase Over Last Year
Authorities received 1,024 fireworks-related calls between 31 October and 5 November. This is an increase from the 833 calls recorded in 2025.
Ch Supt David Robertson described the operation as one of the most complex and demanding deployments in recent memory involving the largest number of officers
. He noted it was the largest such effort since the visit of US President Donald Trump last year. To support the deployment, Police Scotland requested assistance from police forces in England and Wales.
Officers monitored the situation from a strategic co-ordination centre at the police headquarters in Fettes. They used a network of CCTV cameras across Edinburgh and Glasgow to watch for disorder and receive updates from Operation Moonbeam.
Seven people were arrested during the period. In Edinburgh, authorities issued 21 dispersal orders, while Glasgow issued 13, though no-one was charged in relation to any breaches of Firework Control Zones.
Supt Robertson said that while calls rose, he saw a reduction in serious incidents that required specialist resources. He noted that community engagement helped police seize fireworks before they could be used for disorder.
Addressing the violence, Robertson said, Police officers, ambulance staff and firefighters are there to protect communities – not be the target of violence. I want to make it clear that thorough investigations will now take place to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.