FIRST Minister John Swinney has responded after violent scenes broke out in Glasgow and Edinburgh on Tuesday night.
Hundreds of people gathered in Buchanan Street in Glasgow at around 7pm on Tuesday in response to a stabbing attack in Belfast.
The protesters, many of them masked men, called for an "end to mass immigration" while holding signs and banners with slogans including "Scotland for the Scottish".
A large number of police officers were deployed in Glasgow and diverted the protesters away from the city centre. A number of streets and bridges were also closed.
In Edinburgh's Princes Street, men could be seen in footage online with Saltires and Union Flags, as well as flares, and could be heard shouting: "Keir Starmer's a w*nker".
About 100 also staged a demonstration in Ayr.
Swinney said the scenes were "unacceptable" and "have no place in Scotland".
"The scenes we saw in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Ayr last night are unacceptable," he posted on Twitter/X.
"Scotland is a welcoming nation and those who choose to make their lives here are valued members of our communities.
"Racism, hatred and intimidation have no place in Scotland. We must stand against it."
Later he added in a statement: "The events which have followed the horrific and senseless knife attack in Belfast will be extremely concerning for communities who are already experiencing fear, anxiety and uncertainty.
“No one should be made to feel scared in a place they call home, and the actions of those involved do not reflect Scotland’s values.
“I utterly condemn this behaviour and stand firmly against acts that stoke any form of violence and intolerance.
“I thank Police Scotland for their efforts to ensure people’s safety. Ministers have been briefed on the policing operation and will continue to engage closely with Police Scotland over the coming days.”
People were forced to flee their homes and multiple cars and homes were set alight in the disorder in Belfast on Tuesday which followed Monday’s knife attack in the north of the city.
The 30-year-old accused, who is Sudanese, is also charged with possession of an article with a blade or point in a public place and making threats to kill.
He is due to appear at Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
In Northern Ireland, the authorities do not release the name of accused persons before they appear in court.
The victim of the attack, a man aged in his 40s, remained in a serious condition in hospital on Tuesday receiving treatment for serious eye, face and back wounds.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has also condemned the violent scenes in Belfast and Scotland.
"The attack in Belfast was shocking and those responsible must face the full force of the law," he posted on social media.
"People have the right to raise legitimate concerns, but violence, racism and disorder have no place in Scotland and only serve to divide our communities.
"We are strongest when we stand together."
Detectives have said there is no indication Monday’s knife attack in Belfast was terror-related.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland has launched a “critical incident” in response to the incident which was captured on video and appears to show a man stabbing at the victim’s head and neck while he was lying on the ground.
The clip shows people, including one with a hurling stick, intervening to stop the man attacking the victim in the Kinnaird Avenue residential area close to the busy Antrim Road in north Belfast.
A kitchen knife was recovered from the scene.
Police said the accused entered Northern Ireland across the Irish border in February 2023 having flown to Dublin from Paris.
He claimed asylum upon arrival and in September 2023 was granted leave to remain in the UK until 2028.
