Several roadblocks were set on fire along Balgowan Avenue in Dundee on a night of mayhem with reports that fireworks were thrown at police and images showed people jumping on cars
Fireworks were allegedly thrown at riot police attempting to charge hooded revellers who were burning roadblocks in a Halloween night of violence and disorder across Dundee.
In wild scenes, drivers were forced to turn around with four blazes reported along Balgowan Avenue in the city with the first reports of trouble at around 5.30pm, reported the Daily Record.
Images shared on social media showed people had constructed roadblocks using bins and other containers before setting them on fire.
Footage also showed people jumping up and down on parked cars.
Emergency services rushed to the scene including a police helicopter which remained into the night.
At a time when children should have been heading out for ‘Trick or Treat’, locals were urged instead by authorities to avoid the area after multiple fires were started on the road.
Some people were stuck in their cars and forced to watch on, with reports that fireworks were being thrown across the road and into the fires, causing dangerous explosions.
Eye-witness Alex Walker, from Dundee, was forced to drive up on the pavement as he tried to escape the carnage.
Speaking to the Record, Alex said: “I was driving home along Balgowan Avenue and spotted the fire in the distance expecting it to be up in the grassy hill.
“It was only when I got close that I realised it was multiple bits of fire in the various parts of the road. They literally blocked off three junctions. They were throwing fireworks across the road onto the fires and they were exploding.
“I had to stop and work out how to get away from it and that was when I took the photo. I drove up onto the grassy central reservation and over onto the other side of the road and the drove away from it.
“There have been helicopters flying overhead since. Not the sort of thing you would expect to see on a Monday night in Dundee. It will be bonfire night at the weekend. I dread to think what that will be like.”
A spokesperson for the police said: “We were called around 5.30pm on Monday, October 31, to a report of a disturbance in the Balgowan Avenue and Old Glamis Road area of Dundee.
“Emergency services are currently in attendance.”
At around 9pm a spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service confirmed they were in attendance at the scene of the ongoing incident.
The Mirror has contacted Police Scotland for a comment.
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