Parents and young children under attack for the crime of attempting to drive down a public road.
Residents cowering in their homes in fear as multiple fires rage outside and fireworks scream overhead.
A local school vandalised, vehicles and shops attacked and police officers under bombardment as scores of emboldened youths run riot.
No, that is not a description of rioting in downtown LA or the Bronx in New York or one of the world’s conflict hotspots.
Instead it is a description of Dundee’s Kirkton housing estate, which came under siege on Monday night.
This wasn’t Halloween high-jinks gone wrong.
This was organised chaos, planned and executed with a chilling disregard for the law or respect for people and property.
It was frenzied, fierce and frightening and a collective two fingers up to authority.
Remarkable image from my colleague @C_KCessford of the chaos unfolding in Dundee's Kirkton area tonight.
Latest here – we will have more reaction and updates in the morning: https://t.co/h6yAzo2xGW pic.twitter.com/FCOjHAVLdi
— Bryan Copland (@Bryan_DCT) October 31, 2022
The police have been criticised in some quarters for the tardiness of their response.
As the days tick down to Bonfire Night – another potential powder keg that residents are already fearing – officers will have to demonstrate they are on top of the situation.
There simply cannot be a repeat of the shameful scenes that have brought such unwanted attention on the city and those responsible must be brought to book for their actions.
But if, as many believe, those who brought bedlam to the streets are from those very same streets, their motivations need to be understood and warped mindset challenged.
If there are no consequences for their actions, the streets will remain at the mercy of the baying mob.
That is where the community at large has a role to play.
The voice of the right-thinking, law-abiding majority of Kirkton residents is key if trust, peace and respect is to be restored.
Conversation