John Swinney was yesterday accused of ‘insulting’ emergency workers and communities after a ‘desperate bid to downplay’ another Bonfire Night of chaos and violence.
Terrified residents in areas of Edinburgh and Glasgow were forced into hiding as masked yobs threw fireworks, bottles and bricks.
The chaotic scenes, which have become an annual event in parts of the country, saw the riot police battling to restore order become the main targets of the bombardment.
But firefighters, ambulance crews and even members of the public came under attack on Tuesday night.
Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs has condemned the scenes, and said it was ‘unacceptable that people feel intimidated and threatened in their own communities.’
But, as communities and businesses cleared up after another anarchic Bonfire Night, the First Minister said it was ‘important to recognise the assessment’ of police which said incidents were of a ‘lesser degree of significance than …