Fresh demands for a ban on the sale of fireworks to the public have been made following "unprecedented" Bonfire Night violence in Scotland. 

Fire crews were attacked and eight police officers injured in disorder while in an area of Edinburgh petrol bombs and fireworks were thrown at riot police.

Today Councillor Cameron Day, leader of Edinburgh city council, urged the authorities to bring in a ban on the sale of fireworks to the public in a bid to prevent further violence.

Asked in an interview on the BBC if there should there be a complete ban on the sale of fireworks to the public, he said: "Yes."

READ MORE: Edinburgh riot: Police Scotland condemns ‘disgusting disorder’

He added: "I've said this last night and I said it last year as well, while I think... it seems unfair to punish us all, including me and my whole family and everybody else, I think the risk to people's life and particularly emergency service workers, says [this is] the time to reconsider the public sale or fireworks needs to be reconsidered and maybe the promotion of organised [events]whether that's in your local community centre, the council."

He went on: "If we don't do something. It's quite drastic. I would hate to think what happens the next time." 

Councillor Jon Molyneux, a councillor for Pollokshields in Glasgow wrote on X last night: “Scenes like this in my ward, as well as what's happened in Niddrie tonight, reinforce why an effective ban on the public sale of fireworks is so badly needed. These are industrial fireworks being used to intimidate people.”

The Herald: A line of riot police in Niddrie, Edinburgh last night, as disorder broke out at Bonfire Night. Photo PA handout.

Around 100 youths gathered on Hay Avenue in Niddrie, of the capital just before 5pm on Sunday in a repeat of trouble seen last year in the neighbourhood.

Police say around 50 people were responsible for directing fireworks, petrol bombs and other projectiles at buildings, vehicles and police.

READ MORE: Firework violence reveals dark failings in Scots society

Officers were also called to incidents in Dundee and Glasgow, with eight officers in Glasgow and Edinburgh injured on what police described as a night of "unprecedented levels of violence".

Meanwhile the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said there were nine attacks on its crews during an eight-hour period on Bonfire Night, which saw crews bombarded with fireworks and bricks.

No firefighters were injured - however, a fire appliance in West Lothian had a windscreen smashed by a brick and had to be removed from operational service.

Police Scotland Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs said that while the majority of Scotland enjoyed Bonfire Night, "Police Scotland officers were subjected to unprecedented levels of violence.

READ MORE: Bonfire night: The major trouble spots explained

"A minority of individuals have been responsible for an unacceptable and frankly, disgusting level of disorder that left communities alarmed and police officers injured.

"The violent nature of the situation witnessed in the Niddrie area of Edinburgh is extremely concerning, not least because it is believed young people were being actively encouraged and co-ordinated by adults to target officers while they carried out their duties."

First Minister Humza Yousaf branded the incidents "disgraceful" and said those responsible should feel the full force of the law.

Responding to an inquiry from The Herald today, the UK's Department for Business and Trade said it had no plans to ban the public sale of fireworks.

A spokesman pointed to a response to a petition on the matter which said: "The Government has no plans to ban the sale of fireworks to the public but continues to monitor the situation. We believe the majority of individuals use fireworks safely and appropriately."

The Scottish Government's Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown said: “While introducing a complete ban on the sale of fireworks would not be within the competence of the Scottish Parliament, we have, within the powers available to us, taken a series of proportionate, evidence-based steps to strengthen the law around access to and use of fireworks.

“Our Fireworks and Pyrotechnics’ Act makes it a criminal offence for anyone to supply fireworks or other pyrotechnic articles to a child or person under 18.

"It also ensures that courts are required to take into consideration the use of fireworks or pyrotechnics as a possible aggravating factor in any attack on 999 crews. I fully support the police and courts in dealing with offenders robustly.”

Drone footage from Niddrie on Sunday night showed a line of police officers with riot shields standing in front of vans with blue lights flashing.

A mob of black-clad youths gathered on grass in front of them and began throwing pyrotechnics.

The police made a retreat as a petrol bomb hit the ground in front of them and fireworks exploded.

The assault continued, with petrol bombs and fireworks forcing police to shuffle backwards.

The officers then ran at the assailants, in footage filmed from a nearby sports centre.

In Dundee, two police vehicles were struck by bricks in the Beauly Square area, while in Glasgow police received a report of two separate groups of youths fighting and throwing fireworks at one another in Barmulloch.

Police Scotland said there were a small number of arrests made with further arrests anticipated to follow in the coming days as investigations continue.

In 2018, Police Scotland set up Operation Moonbeam to tackle Bonfire Night disorder.

Last year in Niddrie, motorbike gangs terrorised the neighbourhood on Bonfire Night while fireworks were thrown on the ground.

On Halloween this year, riot police attended Kirkton, Dundee, after children reportedly as young as 10 set off fireworks.

Andy Watt, SFRS Assistant Chief Officer, said: "Attacks on our firefighters are completely unacceptable.

"Our staff should be able to carry out their role without being attacked. It is disappointing that people have tried to hurt firefighters and have damaged our appliances.

"This type of behaviour not only prevents our crews from bringing any emergency to a safe and swift conclusion, but it can impact on our emergency service colleagues - including the police - when they are supporting us on scene to ensure the safety of our personnel."

SFRS received more than 892 calls from the public and Operations Control mobilised firefighters to approximately 355 bonfires across the country between 3.30pm and midnight on Sunday November 5.

Mr Yousaf posted on X, formerly known as Twitter: "Disgraceful scenes of fireworks misuse across some areas of Scotland last night, particularly in Niddrie. I pay tribute to @fire_scot & @PoliceScotland officers who should not be targeted & attacked for doing their job.

"Those responsible should feel the full force of the law."

Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Russell Findlay branded the youths in Edinburgh "thugs".

Mr Findlay said: "Such attacks on police officers are cowardly, reckless and dangerous. Police Scotland need sufficient resources to tackle these thugs."