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Edinburgh police respond to disorder after youths throw fireworks and bricks | Edinburgh

Police have said they are responding to incidents of disorder “across Edinburgh” on Bonfire Night – with groups of youths hurling fireworks, bricks and other missiles.

Officers have been given stop-and-search powers after “intelligence” relating to planned disorder and firework-related crime in the Moredun, Niddrie and Gracemount areas of the capital.

This allows police to stop and search people and vehicles to search for weapons and other “dangerous instruments” if they “believe there is a possibility of serious violence or disorder taking place”.

A helicopter is also among the “specialist resources” being deployed as part of Operation Moonbeam, which is aimed at supporting local police in tackling fireworks-related offences.

Supt Neil Wilson, from Edinburgh Division, said: “We are currently responding to incidents of disorder involving large groups of youths throwing a range of objects, including fireworks, bricks and bottles, across Edinburgh.

“Local policing teams are being supported by specialist resources as part of Operation Moonbeam.”

Lothian Buses also announced it had taken the “difficult but necessary” decision to withdraw all services from the Niddrie area until the end of the evening.

The transport operator said in a statement: “We take a zero-tolerance approach to all instances of antisocial behaviour.

“The safety and wellbeing of our colleagues and customers is our absolute priority.

Niddrie was also the scene of disorder on 31 October, when police and public transport vehicles were pelted with fireworks and bricks.

Earlier, officers in Glasgow recovered a “significant quantity” of fireworks from a van in the Drumchapel area.

In a statement posted on social media, police said the fireworks were being “sold to the general public, including children”, and that they had now been seized.

They added that a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal, and that Trading Standards have been notified.

Scotland’s first fireworks control zones are in place in parts of Edinburgh and Glasgow area from 1 to 10 November.

It is an offence to set off a firework within a control zone, with those convicted being liable for a fine of up to £5,000, six months’ imprisonment or both.

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