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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Jon Hebditch

'Walking in blood and broken glass' Charity workers battle hellish conditions in Glasgow amid Rangers title party

'Exhausted' Glasgow charity workers have said they were constantly walking through 'blood and broken glass' during a night of violence and disorder across the city centre.

Parts of Scotland's largest city descended into chaos as thousands of Rangers supporters gathered in George Square breaching coronavirus laws.

When police moved them on many remained and had running battles with cops, allegedly throwing flares, smoke bombs, gates and other items at officers.

Cops estimate some 15,000 gathered in the city centre with many others gathering outside Ibrox before.

They battled to help people (Glasgow Street Aid)

Five cops have been hurt in the clashes with more than 28 arrests made so far - with more promised.

Fights also broke out among supporters and bystanders while shops were vandalised and there was mass drunkenness.

Glasgow Street Aid, which provides first aid in the city and is often busy on the weekend, waded into the carnage with other emergency services.

In a post on social media, the organisation described the 'dangerous and difficult' conditions but praised locals who stopped to help injured people.

Two pictures show shattered workers after the horror shift.

The post reads: "Exhausted!!

A shattered worker rests near a broken bottle (Glasgow Street Aid)

"Only word to describe how we are feeling after seven hours in Glasgow City Centre last night. There wasn't a part of the night we weren't walking in blood or broken glass.

"We worked alongside British Transport Police, Police Scotland, Scottish Ambulance Service and Scottish Ambulance SORT to help those injured in and around George Square but no denying it was a dangerous and difficult night for ourselves and the other frontline services.

"We helped 17 people last night and ran out of gloves and gauze by the end of the shift!

"Only silver lining to last night was the members of the public who tried to help those badly injured and those that stayed behind to clean up the mess left in the streets of Glasgow."

Rangers fans celebrate winning the Scottish Premiership in George Square (PA)

Others reported the Square looking like a 'war zone' after the celebrations, with broken bottles littering the pavement.

The scenes last night have been roundly condemned by police chiefs and senior politicians.

Nicola Sturgeon said she was 'disgusted' by the 'selfish, thuggish, sectarian' behaviour last night.

The First Minister said she was in 'disbelief' at the scenes in Glasgow as football fans celebrated their first premier league triumph in 10 years, before disorder broke out in the city.

George Square was trashed by Rangers fans (Supplied)

The club had urged fans to stay home ahead of the game.

A statement from Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie reads: “I recognise that Rangers fans would have wanted to celebrate their club’s success on Saturday and it was anticipated that crowds would congregate.

“Police Scotland, our partners and Rangers Football Club had all asked fans not to gather and to take personal responsibility for their actions.

(PA)

“But 15,000 people chose to ignore that and took the selfish decision to gather at Ibrox and then George Square, and a robust partnership response plan was implemented to manage them."

A Pro-Palestine protest took place in the square today attracting hundreds.

Police said no gatherings of more than six people should be taking place amid coronavirus legislation.

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