Police Scotland say people were attacked in riots 'because of the colour of their skin' (original) (raw)
Three men have been arrested following an evening of disorder saw members of the public and police officers attacked in Glasgow city centre on Tuesday
Police have said people were “attacked because of the colour of their skin” while worshippers had to stay locked inside Glasgow’s largest mosque amid riots that followed the stabbing of a Scot in Northern Ireland.
Three men, one aged 31 and the others aged 18, were arrested on Wednesday in Scotland’s largest city following the unrest, in which three members of the public and two police officers were hurt, Police Scotland said.
The violence followed a stabbing attack on Monday night in North Belfast.
Police in St Enoch's Square on Wednesday | John Devlin/The Scotsman
Sudanese man Hadi Alodid, 30, has appeared in court charged with the attack, with the 44-year-old victim, Stephen Ogilvie, who is originally from Scotland and believed to have lost an eye as a result.
Protesters took to the streets in several parts of Scotland, including Glasgow city centre, with some of those involved invoking the memory of murdered 18-year-old Henry Nowak, with one banner saying “white lives matter”.
Videos circulating on social media appear to show violent clashes between those in the protest in Glasgow – as a gang marched through the city centre – and members of the public.
Assistant Chief Constable Alan Waddell said: “Our priority is public safety and last night we had a conventional police response to demonstrations across the country.
“We understand the concerns people have about their communities and will always balance the right to freedom of expression with the need to tackle crime without fear or favour.
“Officers responded to disorder and violence, including incidents in Glasgow where members of the public were attacked because of the colour of their skin. Officers were also attacked.
“I would strongly condemn that offending and send a clear message that there is no place for racism and violence in Scotland.”
The man attacked in the Belfast stabbing incident has been reported to be Stephen Ogilvie | Contributed
Police Scotland have an “appropriate policing plan in place” to deal with “any escalation in disorder”, Mr Waddell added.
Other “disruptive but peaceful demonstrations” sprung up in Edinburgh, Falkirk, Perth, Ayr, and Paisley, with no arrests being made.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said worshippers in Glasgow Central Mosque had to be locked in the building, as marchers appeared to be heading towards the building.
Mr Sarwar, who is also a Glasgow MSP, added that many of those marching in the city were clad in balaclavas and black hoodies, saying their behaviour was “intimidating” to passers-by “particularly those from certain minority backgrounds”.
Saying the group had tried to “march towards the mosque, which was nearby in the city centre”, he insisted: “That is not the right response to this disorder and actually it is not Glasgow.
“It is not the best of humanity, I think in many ways that demonstrates the worst of humanity.”
He stressed members of the public in the city would have had “nothing to do with the attacker in Belfast” and would be “equally horrified by the attack”.
Mr Sarwar continued: “The people inside that mosque who had to be locked in with the doors locked and the gates locked surrounded by police, what did they have to do with the attacker in Belfast?
“They would be equally horrified by the knife attack there, they too will want justice to prevail.”
First Minister John Swinney said the scenes were “unacceptable”.
Police in St Enoch's Square on Wednesday | John Devlin/The Scotsman
Speaking to PA during a visit to a health centre in Aberdeen, Health Secretary Angela Constance called for calm – telling those involved in such scenes: “Just go home and behave yourself.”
Ms Constance added: “Our communities don’t need this level of disruption.”
Responding to images circulating of violence in Glasgow, the former justice secretary added: “We have to be very clear and stand united against any form of hatred, intolerance or racism.
“As a former justice secretary, I can assure you that Police Scotland take these matters, very, very seriously and will, of course, follow up on any complaint or in any investigation.”
Burned out cars and boarded up houses on McMaster Street in east Belfast after violence erupted on Tuesday night | PA
Scottish Green co-leader Ross Greer described those in Glasgow as “scumbags”.
Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland’s Breakfast programme, the Green MSP said: “From what I heard from people in Glasgow yesterday, you had grown men walking down Buchanan Street screaming at anyone who wasn’t white, including children who were not white, screaming at them, ‘send them home’.
“So, scumbag would be the word that I would use to describe them as well.”
Police also attended “disruptive but peaceful demonstrations” in Edinburgh, Falkirk, Perth, Ayr, and Paisley and no arrests were made.
Officers said that there was “an appropriate police plan in place” in order to deal with any escalation in the disorder. It is understood that further protests are planned for Wednesday.
ACC Waddell said: “We have an appropriate policing plan in place, including strong links across UK policing to ensure we are prepared to deal with any escalation in disorder, and we will mobilise specialist resources if necessary.
“As part of this, our officers will support National Police Coordination Centre mutual aid arrangements for colleagues at the Police Service of Northern Ireland, following careful consideration to our resourcing requirements to ensure there is no impact to policing in Scotland.”
A 30-year-old Sudanese man was remanded in custody following a court appearance where he was charged with attempted murder after the knife attack.