Startling images show bonfire damage on Glasgow road

The blaze was thought to have started on Albert Drive at its crossroads with Herriet Street in the city's Pollokshields on the evening of Tuesday, November 5. 

Footage previously shared on social media showed the centre of a mini roundabout up in flames as well as fireworks being lit on Albert Drive. 

Fireworks being lit on Albert Drive (Image: Newsquest)

(Image: Supplied) In the aftermath, the roundabout is covered in ash and debris, with what looks like burnt-out rubbish and food waste strewn across the road. 

In the images shared with us by Glasgow Times camera club member Niki Bryce, police were still on the scene on Wednesday morning. 

(Image: Niki Bryce) (Image: Niki Bryce)

READ MORE: Bonfire Night disorder in Glasgow revealed after fireworks seen 'lit in street'

READ MORE: Council embarrassed at firework zone failure

The force confirmed that they are looking into this specific incident and trying to track down the perpetrators. 

Chief Inspector Chris Thomson said: "An investigation is underway to identify those involved in incidents of disorder last night in the Herriet Street and Albert Drive areas of Pollokshields.

"If you have information, please call 101, quoting incident number 4535."

(Image: Niki Bryce) It comes after cops revealed 'pockets' of disorder took place across the city, with youths seen throwing fireworks at members of the public, cars and police officers.

Crews from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service were subjected to two attacks in Clydebank as part of their response to 347 bonfires and 598 incidents across the country on November 5.

Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs praised emergency services for their courage and helping to ensure some incidents did not escalate into 'mass disorder', but slammed those involved in the violence as 'wholly unacceptable'. 

Glasgow City Council failed to enforce a firework control zone in the area and apologised to Southside residents for their delay in introducing a ban, which would have come into effect from November 1 until November 10 and covered public and private spaces including gardens. 

The council published a legal notice of the control zone too late for the ban to take place over Bonfire Night, which councillor Ruairi Kelly said was 'regrettable and quite honestly embarrassing'. 

This feeling has been echoed by Ameen Mohammed, the chair of Pollokshields Community Council, who says he received numerous calls from 'outraged' residents regarding the failure. 

Mr Mohammed has been helping the campaign for a fireworks control zone since Bonfire Night in 2018 which saw yobs wearing balaclavas setting off fireworks and attacking police officers in Pollokshields.

READ MORE: Pollokshields residents' 'terror' as balaclava-clad thugs run riot with fireworks

Between 30 and 40 youths caused damage to windows and struck passing cars by setting off industrial-sized fireworks between Herriet Street and Albert Drive, the same location as the bonfire lit on November 5, 2024.

Mr Mohammed added: "It’s disappointing that the council missed an opportunity to enhance community safety, and now we’re seeing renewed issues with anti-social behaviour."

A spokesperson for the council said: “We are very sorry that the firework control zone for Pollokshields was unable to go ahead as we had hoped for this year’s Bonfire Night.

“The legal notice needed to create the zone was not issued in enough time to ensure it could come into effect as planned for between November 1 and November 10 this year.

“Unfortunately this meant the zone was not be legally enforceable for Bonfire Night and implementation of the zone will now be deferred until next year.

“Members of the Pollokshields community who applied to have a firework control zone for their area were written to directly and we apologised to them for not having the zone in place in time.

“During bonfire and fireworks season we work with our partners in the emergency services to address the community safety concerns that have been expressed in relation to November 5 in Pollokshields and other parts of the city.

“Our staff have helped to remove material intended for bonfires, undertaken Trading Standards checks on shops selling fireworks and coordinated with the emergency services to provide appropriate CCTV support.

“Unacceptable anti-social and criminal behaviour connected to Bonfire Night and the misuse of fireworks are matters for the police to enforce.”