Lawless thugs ran riot across Britain last night as police were mobilised to tackle hooded yobs wielding fireworks in Birmingham, London and Surrey, and riots unfolded for the second year running in Dundee.
Shocking footage has emerged showing mindless yobs launching fireworks at police during a night of violence which left two officers injured in Birmingham city centre.
In Acton, west London, eight people were arrested after fireworks were launched at the area’s main police station and officers were seemingly targeted with pyrotechnics.
And in Dundee, where riots last year saw cars smashed up and bins torched, police were called in to disperse some 50 youths after they set roads alight and reportedly ransacked houses.
Condemnation of the activities has been swift from local leaders and observers on social media – as thugs boldly shared videos of their own activities online.
Hooded and masked thugs set off fireworks in Birmingham city centre on Tuesday night
A gang of firework-wielding yobs marched through the city on Halloween, launching fireworks at cars and into the air
Yobs hurled fireworks at a Tesco Express store as police arrived on the scene on Tuesday
In Birmingham, nine people have been arrested after fireworks were shot at people, cars and buildings by a hooded gang who went on the rampage.
Loud explosions could be heard as the gang fired off fireworks down streets and into the air outside a Tesco Express supermarket; one Tesco worker could even be seen fleeing from the chaos.
Some of the brazen thugs even filmed their own exploits and posted them onto Snapchat, soundtracked with music from a superhero film.
Two officers were hurt after being called to Bagot Street and Staniforth Street to deal with the Halloween disorder near Aston University.
Video footage obtained by Birmz Is Grime show crowds of people walking through the streets letting off fireworks in the direction of police and passing cars.
Students described their campus as ‘a warzone’ and said they ‘ran for their lives’ as the chaos unfolded. Others dubbed it ‘the Battle of Brum.’
One student, who wished to remain anonymous, said: ‘I’ve never seen anything like it. There was just a huge mob of people letting off fireworks at anyone and everyone.
‘It was like something from a war film. There were explosions going off, and people were running away screaming.
‘There were police all over the place. It was lawless. It was absolute carnage.’
People took to social media to condemn the thugs, describing the scenes as ‘so wrong.
One even wrote: ‘Birmingham is just a wicked place man,’ while a video of the chaotic scenes was captioned ‘Why just why’.
Fireworks were seemingly deliberately launched at police officers in Acton, West London on Tuesday night – including into the entrance of Acton police station
Fireworks were also launched in the centre of Ashford, Surrey, by masked yobs on Halloween
The firework ‘launcher’ was used to send off multiple balls of fire, with the youth aiming the device at passers-by, buses and cars
A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: ‘We’ve arrested nine people after tackling unacceptable disorder involving people setting off fireworks in Birmingham city centre.
‘We were alerted to groups launching fireworks at each other and buildings in the Bagot Street and Staniforth Street area from yesterday afternoon.
‘A dispersal order was introduced but the disorder continued as the fireworks were fired towards members of the public and officers.
‘We took tough action – including using stop and search powers – to bring the matter under control and make a series of arrests.
‘Two officers and some others sustained injuries which were thankfully not serious.
‘We won’t tolerate such appalling behaviour which we know is frightening for people and puts them at risk of harm.
‘We’ll use all powers available to us to stop it and we’ll seek to prosecute anyone involved.
‘We’ll have another tough focused policing operation in place today, and over the coming days, to ensure such deplorable actions are prevented and to keep our communities safe.’
Thugs also ran riot in Acton, west London, setting off fireworks and hurling them at police officers – and even Acton police station itself.
Footage appeared to show youths deliberately hurling pyrotechnics at police officers in the area – and firing one directly at the front door of the station.
The Met Police said it arrested eight people, adding that one officer had been treated for ‘minor injuries’ following the incident at its Acton base.
A spokesperson said: ‘At approximately 20:10hrs on Tuesday, 31 October fireworks were set off towards Acton Police Station
One officer was treated for minor injuries. Officers from the Territorial Support Group attended the location to assist local officers with the incident.
‘Eight males were arrested in connection with the incident and enquiries continue. Anyone with information that could assist police is asked to call 101 or ‘X’ @MetCC and quote CAD8017/31Oct.’
Youths ran riot in Dundee for the second year running after starting fires in the streets
Riot police in Dundee on Tuesday night after a crowd of around 50 youths were ‘dispersed’ from the area
In Scotland, a second year of riots in the Kirkton area of Dundee prompted condemnation from local leaders and police.
In scenes reminiscent of chaos the year before, which saw the area locked down by police, youths sealed off roads with a barrier of fire and tried to ransack an empty house, reports The Sun.
Some 50 youngsters were said to have been involved in this year’s chaotic scenes. One local said: ‘It is so scary. They are taking it too far.’
Council leader John Alexander, who grew up in and represents the area, lashed out at the thugs responsible in a strongly worded social media post.
He wrote: ‘If you know your kids are involved in this then sadly, you’re part of the problem. As a parent, as much as a councillor for the area, it makes me so incredibly angry to see this.’
Chief Superintendent Phil Davison, local policing commander for Tayside Division, said: ‘There is no justification for this behaviour, and it will not be tolerated. Enquiries are ongoing to identify everyone involved.
‘The safety of our communities is our main priority, and I would like to reassure the public in that we continue to work closely with our multiagency partners during this Halloween and Bonfire period.
‘We have specially trained colleagues from public order units to support our local policing teams when there is a risk of harm, such as fireworks being used recklessly, illegal bonfires and items being thrown.’
Elsewhere, police were called to Ashford town centre in Surrey on Tuesday after yet more youths set off fireworks.
Footage captured by one local showed a teenager using a firework ‘launcher’ to send numerous balls of fire in the direction of passers-by, buses and cars.
People ran for their lives as the youth pointed the Roman Candle-style firework at them, sending fiery missiles in their direction.
One passer-by, who asked not to be named, said: ‘There was a crowd of the little oiks who showed no understanding of the danger they were posing to others and to themselves – supposing the firework the youth was holding for several minutes, had exploded in his hand. The limb would have, in all likelihood, been blown off.
‘The police were called and were run ragged around the place. It was all totally unnecessary. The smoke from the fireworks filled the town centre. It was all quite frightening.’