Worshippers had to be locked in Glasgow’s largest mosque as tensions flared in the city following a stabbing in Northern Ireland, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said as he condemned the “disorder, violence and racism” seen in the city.
While violence erupted on the streets of Belfast on Tuesday night, in response to the knife attack on Monday, there was also disorder in Scotland.
A man has appeared in court charged with the attack, with the 44-year-old victim Stephen Ogilvie said to have lost an eye as a result.
Protestors 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”.
Scottish Greens co-leader Ross Greer branded those who took part as “scumbags” while Scottish First Minister John Swinney said the scenes were “unacceptable”.
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.
Mr Sarwar told the Press Association that worshippers in Glasgow Central Mosque had to be locked in the building, as marchers appeared to be heading towards the building.
The Scottish Labour leader, who is also a Glasgow MSP, added that many of those marching in the city had been 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.”
His comments came after Mr Greer insisted that those involved were “racist rioters”.
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.”
In a post on X, First Minister John Swinney said: “The scenes we saw in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Ayr last night are unacceptable.
“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.”
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.”
Such disorder is “completely intolerable and unacceptable”, she said, adding: “It’s really important that today we continue with that positive message that Scotland remains a welcoming country.
“We have been a place of safety and refuge for people who have had to flee horrors from other parts of the world and I don’t know many Scots who don’t have some immigrant heritage.”
