POLICE Scotland have released shocking footage of the Bonfire Night disorder in Edinburgh as Scots yobs launched fireworks and clashed with police officers.
The thermal imagery was captured by a helicopter hovering mainly over the area of Liberton in the Scottish capital during the unrest on 5 November.
Grim scenes show youths running amok on Edinburgh’s roads, firing rockets at each other before throwing projectiles at attending officers.
The footage, capturing everything under thermal imagery for clearer visibility opens with two groups of youths engaging in a firework fight through a tunnel.
A large crowd runs out of the tunnel, with one male stopping to throw a firework behind him.
A second pyrotechnic then comes into view from inside the tunnel, presumably fired by the other group, with the rocket shooting out of the tunnel and exploding amongst the crowd.
Video then cuts to a residential street where crowds of people gather, and police officers line the streets blocking off a nearby bonfire.
The bright light from the fire nearly blinds the night vision camera as it pans across the areas where the crowd gathers.
Further up the road a gang of yobs, far outnumbering the officers, is seen milling around, with some throwing projectiles at the coppers.
The footage was shared to social media yesterday with the caption: “We have launched criminal investigations across the country following disorder experienced on Bonfire Night.
“Members of the public can submit their own photographic or video evidence of crimes in their area here: mipp.police.uk/operation/SCOT”
It has since received over 240 likes and more than 50 comments from social media users shocked by the disorder.
One user wrote: “Time to urge the Scottish Government that fireworks need a complete ban.”
Another commented: “They need to be banned. Enough is enough.”
A third said: “Bit of proactive policing might have helped as opposed to reactive standing by and watching.”
Another replied: “They should be punished for this hopefully if they catch the wee burgers.”
A fifth added: “Stop selling explosives to bams.”
