Bonfire Night chaos as yobs attack police with fireworks and Molotov cocktails
Bonfire Night descended into chaos in several cities across the UK as police officers came under attack from yobs armed with fireworks amid widespread disorder.
One local reporter said they were ordered to hide inside a fire engine in Manchester as a group of 'around 30 people' launched rockets at houses at riot police dispatched to respond to the incident. A motorbike was also burned in a separate incident several miles away. The scenes of destruction were repeated in Edinburgh where there were reports of Molotov cocktails being launched at police in an incident involving as many as 100 young people.
Ethan Davies from the Manchester Evening News said from the scene: "Weâve been sent to Abbey Hey and arrived to loads of Tactical Aid Unit police. Thereâs a bonfire ongoing, and one cop has said fireworks have been thrown at them so weâre under orders to stay in the fire engine"
Elsewhere in the same region, the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMRS) confirmed groups of youths were also throwing fireworks directly at houses in Stockport and that a motorbike was set alight by a firework in Farnworth. They also attended a number of 'dangerous' bonfires. The fire service also confirmed two people were left injured in Bolton after being hit by fireworks, and sustained minor injuries in the incident.
Bonfire Night trouble also flared in Edinburgh, forcing riot police to be sent to the scene and leading one area to be locked down. Roads and bus routes have also been disrupted. A Police Scotland spokesperson told Edinburgh Live: "Specialist Public Order resources, deployed as part of Operation Moonbeam, are currently supporting local officers in the Hay Avenue area of Edinburgh, following reports of a large group of youths involved in the antisocial use of fireworks within the area."
Trouble flared in suburbs of two major UK cities this evening as riot police were forced to respond to a Bonfire Night turned ugly.
Tactical Aid officers from Greater Manchester Police along with fire crews attended an unofficial bonfire in the Abbey Hey area of the city, where officers reportedly had fireworks launched at them as they responded to a group of 'around 30 people'.
In Edinburgh, police described a crowd of about 100 young people causing trouble in the Niddrie area, with fireworks and petrol bombs thrown at officers responding to the disorder.
Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas
Unsafe street bonfire in Bolton
Firefighters from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue have continued to tackle an unsafe bonfire on a street in Bolton late into the evening.
We're still with the #Farnworth crew who've tackled a bonfire on Campbell Street in Bolton. pic.twitter.com/shqdm1eOIB
— Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service (@manchesterfire) November 5, 2023
Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas
100 young people clash with riot police
Around 100 young people are understood to have been involved in this evening's Bonfire Night altercation with police in Edinburgh.
Police said the disorder in the suburb of Niddrie began at 4.40pm, and that officers had been "subjected to attacks involving fireworks, petrol bombs and other projectiles".
Condemning the disorder, City of Edinburgh Council leader Cammy Day told the BBC: "This reckless behaviour endangers lives and like the majority of people in the community I share in their dismay and upset at this disgraceful behaviour."
Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas
Firefighters tackle blaze in Manchester
Firefighters tackle a blaze in Farnworth, Manchester on Sunday evening (Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service)
Antony Thrower
Firework aimed at tower block in Manchester
Fire crews have been dispatched to a tower block in Ancoats, Manchester, following reports a firework was fired at it.
It is currently unknown if the building was damaged in the lone attack.
Antony Thrower
'This is bang out of order'
Fire crews dealing with several wheelie bin fires came under attack by people throwing bricks.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue reported on Twitter yobs attacked the teams as they went about their work in Little Lever. They wrote: "This is bang out of order - our teams work tirelessly to protect others, they do not come to work to be attacked.'
Sadly, weâve just been dealing with a fire involving multiple wheelie bins and timber in Little Lever, and our crew has come under attack from people throwing bricks. This is #BangOutOfOrder â our staff work tirelessly to protect others, they do not come to work to be attacked
— Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service (@manchesterfire) November 5, 2023
Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas
'Unofficial' bonfire sparks emergency response
An 'unofficial' bonfire by the side of the street has been reported in Farnworth, Manchester, prompting an emergency response.
The 'unofficial' bonfire in Manchester on a night of disorder (GMFRS)
Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas
Molotov cocktails thrown
There are reports that Molotov cocktails have been thrown at police officers this evening in Niddrie, Edinburgh.
Scenes of Bonfire Night disorder were also witnessed in the area last year, with some locals having spoken of their fears of a repeat this year.
Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas
Riot police line up in Edinburgh suburb
A row of police in riot gear have been seen lining up against the backdrop of fireworks in the Edinburgh suburb of Niddrie, where clashes have been reported tonight.
Photographs from the scene in Niddrie, Edinburgh
Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas
Riot police in Manchester suburb
Tactical Aid units are at the scene in the Abbey Hey area of Manchester, where officers were reportedly having fireworks launched at them as they responded to a group of 'around 30 people' at an unofficial bonfire.
Tactical Aid units descend on bonfire with '30 people' as police 'attacked' with fireworks
Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas
Bonfire Night 'chaos' in Edinburgh suburb
A scene of 'chaos' is said to be unfolding in the Edinburgh suburb of Niddrie as police in riot gear respond to anti-social behaviour in the Hay Avenue area of the community.
Police Scotland say that Specialist Public Order resources were deployed to the area as part of Operation Moonbeam. This move is aimed at supporting local police in the area.
Footage circulating online shows dozens of police in riot gear with shields raised marching through the streets around Hay Avenue.
