Seven Men Arrested Over Bonfire Night Disorder

16 December 2017, 12:15 | Updated: 16 December 2017, 12:23

Bonfire Night

Seven young men have been arrested by police in Edinburgh over alleged disorder in the north of the city on Bonfire Night.

Police said several cars in the Craigentinny area were set alight on the evening of Sunday November 5, while an officer was injured by a firework as she responded to reports of large-scale disorder and anti-social behaviour in the Drylaw area.

Officers said their investigations since then have resulted in "enforcement activity" at 13 addresses in those areas and Leith.

As a result, seven males aged between 16 and 21 have been charged, police said.

Five of them are expected to appear in court on Monday, with the other two due in court at a later date.

That takes the total number of arrests to 11, after four teenagers were charged on Guy Fawkes Night.

Chief Inspector Kevin McLean, local area commander for north-east Edinburgh, said: "The range of offences that we witnessed during Bonfire Night were totally unacceptable and left the hard-working and law-abiding members of our communities in these areas in a state of fear and alarm.

"Furthermore, when officers attended to assist the public, they were directly targeted and this will not be tolerated.

"Our activity on Friday has been the culmination of weeks of intelligence-gathering, planning and engagement with our relevant local partners."