Meadow Well chaos LIVE: Updates as riot police attacked in Bonfire Night violence

56 minutes ago 1

Riot police in Meadow Well responding to Bonfire Night chaos

LIVEUpdated 4 mins ago

Riot police are responding to disorder in the Waterville Road area of Meadow Well estate in North Tyneside

Riot police in Meadow Well responding to Bonfire Night chaos(Image: ChronicleLive)

Updated 23:21, 05 Nov 2026

Shocking scenes are unfolding in a North Shields estate with riot police being deployed to diffuse the situation. Northumbria Police say emergency services have been subjected to violent attacks including having bricks, missiles and fireworks thrown at them as they respond to disorder in the Waterville Road area of Meadow Well.

Photos and videos from the area show large groups gathering in the area as fireworks are fired at a building and police officers.

Northumbria Police say officers believe the disorder has been "pre-arranged" and relates to "misinformation in the community" regarding reports of a House of Multi-occupancy (HMO) – which is actually planned for use as a supermarket.

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Today23:15 GMT

'The stupidity has to stop': North East Mayor issues furious statement

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness has issued a damning statement in the past few minutes, saying: "I’m disgusted by scenes of clearly pre-arranged violence in Meadow Well tonight, carried out by a miniority of idiots.

"These thugs apparently thought they were attacking a planned HMO, when in fact, it was destined to be a supermarket.

"This dangerous misinformation and the way it spreads needs to be tackled and the stupidity has to stop - there is no excuse for it.

"Northumbria Police and Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service go to work every day to protect us. They deserve better than this and so do the residents of the Meadow Well who have had to endure it."

Today23:14 GMT

Full police statement on disorder in Meadow Well

A Northumbria Police spokesperson said:

We’re currently on scene in the Waterville Road area of Meadow Well in North Tyneside in response to reports of anti-social behaviour and other violent disorder.Emergency services in the area have been subjected to violent attacks including having bricks, missiles, and fireworks thrown at them.We believe the disorder has been pre-arranged and relates to misinformation in the community that the completed building is going to be used as a House of Multi-occupancy (HMO) – which is not accurate.The site is planned for use as a supermarket.We are sharing this information to stop speculation in the community which may lead to further disorder.This behaviour is completely unacceptable, and we are working swiftly to identify those responsible and deal with them robustly. We simply will not tolerate this behaviour – and it doesn’t belong within our neighbourhoods. If you've got any information which could assist us to identify anyone involved, please send us a direct message, quoting: NP-20261105-0493.

Today23:06 GMT

Police targeted with fireworks in multiple UK cities

One arrest has been made as officers and ambulance crews were targeted with fireworks and a police vehicle set alight as they tried to reach an injured man in Glasgow this evening, Police Scotland has said.

Today22:41 GMT

'Pre-arranged' disorder

Police believe that the disorder in Meadow Well has been "pre-arranged".

Today22:40 GMT

Building believed to be the target of disorder has been set on fire

The building which police believe to be the target of the disorder has been set on fire.

Fire in Meadow Well as riot police called to disorder in the area

Today22:36 GMT

Police 'working swiftly to identify those responsible'

Northumbria Police say officers are "working swiftly to identify those responsible" and will "deal with them robustly".

Today22:33 GMT

'Like something out of a movie'

A local resident has decribed the scenes as 'like something out of a movie' as he explained that he has 'never seen anything like it' before.

Riot police in Meadow Well(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)

Today22:28 GMT

Meadow Well Metro station closed

Meadow Well Metro station has been closed following disorder in the area.

In an online statement a Metro spokesperson said:

Meadow Well will continue to be closed until end of service today due to police incidents in the surrounding area.

Today22:20 GMT

Police have formed a barricade around the building

Police have formed a barricade around the building which has been targeted.

Police line in Meadow Well(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)

Today22:16 GMT

Police believe the disorder has stemmed from 'misinformation'

Northumbria Police believe the disorder has stemmed from "misinformation in the community" about a House of Multi-occupancy (HMO) being built in the area, which is not accurate and is actually planned for use as a supermarket.

Today22:09 GMT

'Completely unacceptable'

Northumbria Police say the scenes witnessed in Meadow Well this evening are "completely unacceptable".

A spokesperson for the force added: "We simply will not tolerate this behaviour – and it doesn’t belong within our neighbourhoods."

Riot police in Meadow Well as disorder erupts on Bonfire Night(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)

Today22:05 GMT

Emergency service workers attacked

Police say emergency service workers have been subjected to violent attacks including having bricks, missiles, and fireworks thrown at them as they respond to disorder in the area.

Today22:04 GMT