Seven arrested in Glasgow following Bonfire Night disorder in Scotland
Police Scotland deployed its largest force since 2025 to manage widespread violence, with emergency crews attacked by fireworks in Glasgow and other regions.
By Olga Menon ·
Seven individuals were taken into custody in Glasgow following a night of significant violence across parts of Scotland. The disorder on Bonfire Night involved emergency services being targeted with fireworks, while one police vehicle was set on fire and sustained serious damage.
The incident began shortly before 8 pm on November 5, when officers and ambulance crews responded to a report of an injured man on Greenside Street in Glasgow. During the response, both crews were attacked with fireworks. The assault resulted in a police officer and an ambulance staff member sustaining minor injuries. Additionally, a police vehicle was set alight and seriously damaged during the confrontation.
A spokesperson for Police Scotland confirmed that specialist resources under Operation Amberlight were deployed to the scene, leading to the arrest of one male. Inquiries into the event remain ongoing, and the police have maintained a visible presence in the area to monitor the situation.
The unrest was not limited to Glasgow. Fireworks were thrown at members of the public in Clydebank, while fire crews faced attacks in the Knightswood and Castlemilk areas of Glasgow. Similar incidents occurred in Cumnock in Ayrshire, Larkhall in South Lanarkshire, and Blackridge in West Lothian. In the south of Edinburgh, firefighters were compelled to withdraw from bin fires due to antisocial behavior, and police were also targeted with fireworks in other parts of the capital.
In Dundee, police attended the Kirkton area after reports indicated a significant group of individuals had gathered to set illegal fires. This activity contributed to the broader pattern of disorder reported across the country during the evening.
To manage the heightened threat level, Police Scotland launched its largest deployment of officers since the visit by US President Donald Trump to Aberdeenshire in 2025. The force requested assistance from police departments in England and Wales to bolster its ranks. Officers from as far away as Avon and Somerset, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, and South Wales were expected to join the streets of Scotland for the operation.
The Scottish fire and rescue service handled a substantial volume of calls during the peak hours. Between 5:30 pm and 11:30 pm on November 5, the service received more than 800 calls related to fireworks and bonfires.
Police Scotland also released data covering the period from Halloween through November 5. During this span, they received 1,024 calls specifically related to fireworks. This figure represents an increase from the 833 calls recorded during the same period in 2025.
Despite the rise in the total number of calls, police officials noted a reduction in the number of incidents that required a specialist public order response across the country. This suggests that while the volume of reports increased, the severity of the disturbances requiring specialized intervention decreased compared to previous years.
