Man convicted of Bonfire Night chaos in Edinburgh after giving kids fireworks

Daily Record

4 days ago

Jordan McMillan, 24, was found guilty of culpable and reckless conduct after supplying the individuals with pyrotechnics on November 5 last year.
A man has been convicted of causing chaos in Edinburgh on Bonfire Night after providing youths with fireworks.
Jordan McMillan, 24, was found guilty of culpable and reckless conduct after supplying the individuals with pyrotechnics on November 5 last year. His actions saw the devices being pelted at police and firefighters during mass disorder in the capital's Niddrie, Sighthill, Broomhouse and Gilmerton areas.
The terrifying scenes saw hooligans set fire to roads, play parks, wheelie bins and cars. Balaclava-clad hooligans were also filmed launching rockets in the direction of moving vehicles.
The disorder brought the area to a standstill as riot cops were forced to move in to close Niddrie Main Road off from the public.
McMillan was arrested as part of a major criminal investigation into the offences that took place between Halloween and Bonfire Night.
He was convicted at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Friday.
He will be sentenced on July 14.
Chief Superintendent David Robertson, Divisional Commander for Edinburgh said: 'This conviction should send a very clear message that the reckless and dangerous behaviour we witnessed across Edinburgh last year will not be tolerated.
'Police officers and other emergency service workers do not come to work to be attacked, and the level of violence directed towards them during Halloween and Bonfire Night was wholly unacceptable.
'Jordan McMillan did not act in isolation and is only one of several individuals responsible for the offences we saw on Niddrie Mains Road during the evening of 5 November 2024.
"Further positive court outcomes for those involved in disorder during 2024 are anticipated and we are currently working with key partners ahead of Bonfire Night 2025 to protect our communities from this reckless and dangerous behaviour, which simply has to stop.'
The chaos in Niddrie followed a number of other incidents in the area in recent years.
On Halloween 2024, officers faced attacks from youths armed with fireworks and bricks - resulting in injuries to one female officer during the chaos on Hay Drive.
Similar disturbances occurred in 2023, with the community in lockdown as gangs of youths clashed with riot police and damaged buses.
Police have been cracking down on the chaos as part of Operation Moonbeam.
Last year, four teens were among seven people arrested over Bonfire Night riots after a series of dawn raids were carried out by police in the hunt for the thugs behind Scotland's firework riots.
The raids in November involved 20 officers and the arrest of four teenagers before they could set off for school.
Three other adults, including a 39-year-old woman, were nicked in the operation.
All seven of those arrested were charged with disorder offences.