Fire crews targeted as biggest police operation of year gets under way

Fireworks have been thrown at fire crews and appliances as the biggest police operation of the year gets under way on Bonfire Night.

In Edinburgh, there have been reports of youths throwing fireworks at officers and police vans in Lasswade Road and South Queensferry.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) confirmed that fireworks have been thrown at appliances in Colinton and Oxgang on Thursday night.

The largest incident has seen around 20 youths in balaclavas building a blockade with pallets and wheelie bins across a main road on Oxgangs Road North, while also reportedly throwing glass bottles at officers.

In Gilmartin Dykes Street and at Gracemount Leisure Centre, fireworks are reportedly being aimed at officers.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 5.30pm on Thursday, November 5 2026, we received a report of a group of youths creating a blockage in the road on Oxgangs Road North, Edinburgh.

“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.

“Officers remain in the area, and inquiries are ongoing to trace those involved.”

In Wester Hailes, the fire service attended a fire in a grass area near houses in Murrayburn Park.

Firefighters were called to the scene of a bonfire shortly after 7pm, with one fire engine called out to extinguish the flames.

It comes as Operation Moonbeam gets under way, which enables specially trained officers to tackle firework-related violence and disorder across Bonfire Night.

Working alongside the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), it is Police Scotland’s largest officer deployment since US President Donald Trump’s visit to Aberdeenshire ahead of Bonfire Night 2026.

The force has said it “absolutely has enough” resources to tackle firework-related crime and anti-social behaviour across the region.

Firework Control Zones were put in place in parts of Glasgow and Edinburgh, banning the use of fireworks and sparklers in private spaces, such as gardens.

The zones will operate in Edinburgh from October 30 to November 8, and in Glasgow from October 30 to November 9.

They give officers the power to break up groups of two or more people whose behaviour is causing, or likely to cause, alarm or distress, will be in place in some parts of the country.

Officers will have the power to direct groups of more than two to leave a certain area and not return for 48 hours.