A WOMAN has been charged with a hate crime after a far-right demonstration which saw Scottish police officers attacked.
Police Scotland said on Thursday afternoon that a 32-year-old woman had "been arrested and charged following the protest activity in the Main Street area of Greenock on Wednesday, 10 June, 2026".
She is due to appear at Greenock Sheriff Court on Friday, 12 June, and further enquiries are ongoing.
It comes after Police Scotland said that two men had been arrested at the anti-immigration protest outside a hotel in the town which has been used to house asylum seekers.
It was the second night of disorder, with Glasgow on Tuesday evening seeing racist rioters attack people “because of the colour of their skin”.
On Wednesday evening, Police Scotland had told members of the public to avoid the Main Street area of Greenock due to “protest activity”.
In its first update on Thursday, the force said: “Police were made aware of protest activity in the Main Street area of Greenock on the evening of Wednesday, 10 June, 2026.
“Three officers sustained minor injuries after items were thrown at them and two police vehicles were damaged.
“Two men were arrested and issued with Fixed Penalty Notices for anti-social behaviour offences.
“Further enquiries are ongoing.”
Chief Superintendent Rhona Fraser said: “Our priority is public safety and we had an appropriate policing plan in place for last night’s demonstration.
“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 were attacked and police vehicles were damaged.
“I strongly condemn that violence and there is no place for it in Scotland.
“Officers continue to be in local areas and are engaged with communities to show support and listen to concerns.”
The disorder came following a stabbing attack in north Belfast which has become a flash-point for the online right. Far-right agitators such as Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (known as Tommy Robinson) and Elon Musk had posted on Twitter/X about the attack, urging their supporters to demonstrate.
Reform UK have also faced allegations of having fanned the flames of the racial attacks.
The party’s deputy leader in Scotland, Thomas Kerr, on Wednesday urged people to “go out and protest” again after the race riots.
In Belfast, Wednesday saw a second night of disorder. Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said 12 police officers were injured and 16 arrests were made amid "racist thuggery".
Police used water cannons on rioters as officers were pelted with bricks and petrol bombs by balaclava-clad rioters in County Antrim.
Benn told LBC Radio: “Thugs burning people out of their homes because of the colour of their skin. This is not what Northern Ireland is about.”
