A police vehicle was set on fire and fireworks were launched at officers as Bonfire Night disorder broke out in parts of Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee on Thursday evening.
Officers were called to reports of an injured man on Greenside Street in the Provanmill area of Glasgow at about 19:55 on Thursday. While in attendance, police and ambulance crews were targeted with fireworks. Dozens of people watched as a police car was set alight in the middle of a residential street near other vehicles. Emergency services were forced to withdraw. Operation Amberlight specialist resources were deployed, and one man was arrested.
In Edinburgh, fireworks were thrown at officers in the Oxgangs area. A spokesperson said: "Officers attended and fireworks were set off in their direction, but no injuries have been reported. Several small fires in bins and the park were extinguished by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service." Reports indicated groups of youths were involved. In Dundee, a public order unit was deployed after more than 100 youths gathered and started a fire on the road.
A 15-year-old was taken to hospital in Alexandria after lighting a firework that exploded and damaged his eye.
The Bonfire Night celebrations coincided with a major European football clash and a possible protest in Glasgow. Officers from as far afield as Avon and Somerset, Hampshire, Hertfordshire and South Wales were ready to be deployed. Chief Superintendent David Robertson told officers at a Fettes police station briefing: "Tonight is about capitalising on the additional capability and capacity we've got deployed tonight. We need to respond effectively and we need to make our presence felt when it's required."
Chief Constable Jo Farrell issued a warning: "You'll face the full impact of the law, you'll be arrested and you'll face the consequences. I have no tolerance for that level of violence on the streets of Scotland." She added: "I know that the planning and the work that has gone into tonight is as good as we have ever done and so we have given ourself the best, best foundation on which to ensure people can enjoy Bonfire Night."
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The disorder put emergency service personnel at risk, with fireworks deliberately aimed at police and ambulance crews, and a police car destroyed.
- The scale of the trouble, across multiple cities, required Police Scotland to call in reinforcements from other forces, indicating a serious public order challenge.
- A teenager sustained a serious eye injury, highlighting the danger of unsafe handling of fireworks.
Background
Bonfire Night, held annually on 5 November, involves bonfires and fireworks displays. This year's event in Scotland coincided with a major European football match and a planned protest in Glasgow, prompting Police Scotland to mount what it called its biggest police operation of the year, with additional officers drafted in from across England and Wales.
Key Perspectives
What to Watch
- Inquiries are ongoing in Glasgow and Edinburgh; further arrests are possible as police trace those involved.
- Police remain in the affected areas, and any further disorder or retaliation could escalate.
- The severity of the teenager's eye injury may influence public and political debate on fireworks regulation.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedA police car was set alight in Glasgow amid Bonfire Night disorder.BBC Scotland: “A police vehicle has been set on fire and fireworks have been launched at officers as Bonfire Night disorder broke out in parts of Scotland.”
- SupportedBonfire Night disorder broke out in parts of Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee on Thursday evening.BBC Scotland: “Published 5 November 2026, 21:45 GMT”
- SupportedOfficers were targeted with fireworks during the disorder.BBC Scotland: “While in attendance, the police and ambulance crews were targeted with fireworks.”
- SupportedOne man was arrested in Glasgow.BBC Scotland: “Operation Amberlight specialist resources were deployed, and one man was arrested.”
- SupportedA 15-year-old was injured after a firework exploded in Alexandria.BBC Scotland: “A 15-year-old was taken to hospital in Alexandria after lighting a firework that exploded and damaged his eye.”
- SupportedOfficers were called to reports of an injured man on Greenside Street in Provanmill at about 19:55 on Thursday.BBC Scotland: “Officers were called to reports of an injured man on Greenside Street in the Provanmill area of Glasgow at about 19:55 on Thursday.”
- SupportedIn Edinburgh, the spokesperson said: “Officers attended and fireworks were set off in their direction, but no injuries have been reported. Several small fires in bins and the park were extinguished by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.”BBC Scotland: “A spokesperson said: "Officers attended and fireworks were set off in their direction, but no injuries have been reported. "Several small fires in bins and the park were extinguished by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.”
- SupportedMore than 100 youths gathered and started a fire on a road in Dundee.BBC Scotland: “in Dundee, a public order unit was deployed after more than 100 youths gathered and started a fire on the road.”
- SupportedThe Bonfire Night celebrations coincided with a major European football clash and a possible protest in Glasgow, and officers from four named forces were ready to be deployed.BBC Scotland: “The Bonfire Night celebrations coincided with a major European football clash and a possible protest in Glasgow, and officers from as far afield as Avon and Somerset, Hampshire, Hertfordshire and South Wales were ready to be deployed.”
- SupportedChief Superintendent David Robertson told officers at a Fettes police station briefing that police needed to use their additional capability and capacity, respond effectively and make their presence felt when required.BBC Scotland: “"Tonight is about capitalising on the additional capability and capacity we've got deployed tonight," he told officers at a Fettes police station briefing. "We need to respond effectively and we need to make our presence felt when it's required."”
- SupportedChief Constable Jo Farrell warned that people would face the full impact of the law, be arrested and face the consequences, and said she had no tolerance for that level of violence.BBC Scotland: “She said: "You'll face the full impact of the law, you'll be arrested and you'll face the consequences. "I have no tolerance for that level of violence on the streets of Scotland."”
- SupportedFarrell said the planning and work for the night were as good as they had ever done and gave them the best foundation to ensure people could enjoy Bonfire Night.BBC Scotland: “She added: "I know that the planning and the work that has gone into tonight is as good as we have ever done and so we have given ourself the best, best foundation on which to ensure people can enjoy Bonfire Night."”