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Glasgow clashes and arrests
Police Scotland arrested 15 people after anti-immigration and anti-racism protests clashed in Glasgow Green and the city centre on Saturday, with disorder continuing as a large group left the initial site and caused “further disorder” in the city centre.
“Police Scotland has arrested 15 people while responding to incidents of disorder”
The BBC said anti-racism demonstrators gathered at 11:00 on Glasgow Green while a demonstration by anti-immigration protesters began there an hour later, and police separated the two groups, each made up of hundreds of protesters.
The London Evening Standard reported that protesters and counter-protesters clashed as police on horses attempted to separate them near Glasgow Green, with helicopters circled the park as police managed to separate the groups near Saltmarket in the city centre.
The Scotsman said 15 people were arrested and weapons seized after violence erupted in Glasgow city centre following the anti-immigration protest, and it described arrests for possession of an offensive weapon, assault, breach of the peace, obstruction and resisting arrest.
The clashes included chants and placards, with the Unite the Clans rally chanting “send them home” and holding placards reading “stop the boats” as blue smoke billowed from the park.
Officials condemn violence
Chief superintendent Emma Croft said police had seen “significant disorder” from disparate groups at what should have been peaceful, lawful protests, and she added that “the behaviour from many of these groups is not legitimate protest, it amounts to violence, intimidation and fear and will not be tolerated.”
The London Evening Standard reported that weapons recovered at the scene showed some arrived with the “intention for pre-meditated disorder, violence and intimidation,” and it said a significant policing operation remained in place with disorder reported across the city centre where hundreds gathered.
Justice Secretary Neil Gray told the public that “The scenes in Glasgow today were totally unacceptable,” and he said “No area of any city should be an intimidating place to go.”
Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said the scenes were “wholly unacceptable,” adding that for the second time in as many months members of the public in the city centre had faced serious and concerning disorder by protestors who wanted to spread division and fear.
The BBC said police warned it expected to make further arrests, and it quoted Croft saying officers had recovered weapons that indicated an intention for pre-meditated disorder, violence, and intimidation.
Counter-protest and misinformation
The National Scot said at least 1000 anti-racism campaigners held a rally in Glasgow to counter a meeting of the far-right group Unite the Clans at Glasgow Green, and it described a large police presence with around 10 police vans and officers in horse back in attendance.
“at least 1000 anti-racism campaigners held a rally in Glasgow”
It said the counter-demonstration was organised by a coalition including Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) and Women Against The Far Right, and it reported that activists were seen surrounding the Unite the Clans meeting while police kept the groups separated.
The National Scot also said Unite the Clans first drew major attention in March when it staged a demonstration outside the Scottish Parliament, urging “patriots” to gather from across the country, which was met by around 1000 counter-protesters.
The BBC reported that in recent weeks tensions had flared with police pinning much of the blame on misinformation online, and it said the Scottish government’s Justice Secretary Neil Gray described a “significant deployment” of police to contain the protest.
The Scotsman added that total numbers who attended both protests had yet to be confirmed, but it said those in the anti-immigration protest were in their low to middle hundreds with anti-racist supporters turning out in their low to middle thousands.
