No trams, buses or traffic were allowed on the road with diversions in place because of the incident earlier on Wednesday evening.
19:30, 06 Aug 2025Updated 20:57, 06 Aug 2025
Fire crews at the scene.(Image: Supplied)
Edinburgh’s busiest shopping street was locked down as emergency services dealt with youths throwing items from a roof.
Princes Street was shut off this evening with a police and fire cordon in place. Emergency services were called to the scene on Wednesday at 5.45pm as busy festival-goers would normally be flooding the area.
Pictures captured earlier from South St Andrew Street showed an empty road on what is one of the busiest times of the year for the city.
Princes Street is closed at St Andrew Street.
A cordon was in place from outside the McDonald’s with a single police vehicle in place, looking down to Waverley.
Multiple fire crews were also on the scene as well as a number of officers. It’s understood that a cordon has now been removed and the emergency services have left.
Officers at the scene.(Image: Supplied)
Travel was disrupted with no trams, buses or traffic allowed on the road with diversions in place but an update from Edinburgh Trams at 8.25pm said they will now be running with extended wait times while they return to their full route service.
Edinburgh Trams previously said on X: “Due to the ongoing Police Incident on Princes Street, trams will be running between Airport – West end and Picardy Place – Newhaven only.
“Ticket acceptance is in place with Lothian buses between Picardy place and West end in both directions.”
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Meanwhile Lothian Buses had said: “Due to a road closure buses are unable to serve Princes Street and are instead diverted via Charlotte Square, Queen Street, York Place and London Road heading eastbound only until further notice.”
Buses were previously “unable to serve Waverley Bridge and are instead terminating at George Street outside The Dome until further notice”.
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The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service confirmed they were in attendance supporting Police Scotland.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 5.45pm on Wednesday, 6 August, 2025, police received a report of youths throwing items from a roof on Princes Street, Edinburgh.
“Officers are at the scene and enquiries are ongoing.”