WORSHIPPERS at Glasgow’s largest mosque were locked in as violent tensions flared following a stabbing in Northern Ireland, with police confirming people were “attacked because of the colour of their skin”.
Three men, one aged 31 and the others aged 18, were arrested on Wednesday in Scotland’s largest city following the unrest, in which three members of the public and two police officers were hurt, Police Scotland said.
The disorder followed a stabbing attack on Monday night in North Belfast.
Sudanese man Hadi Alodid, 30, has appeared in court charged with the attack, with the 44-year-old victim, Stephen Ogilvie, who has lost an eye as a result.
Rioters 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”.
Videos circulating on social media appear to show violent clashes between those involved in the protest in Glasgow – as a gang marched through the city centre – and members of the public.
Assistant chief constable Alan Waddell said the force "strongly condemn that offending and send a clear message that there is no place for racism and violence in Scotland".
Other “disruptive but peaceful demonstrations” sprung up in Edinburgh, Falkirk, Perth, Ayr, and Paisley, with no arrests being made.
Speaking to the press on Wednesday, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said worshippers in Glasgow Central Mosque had to be locked in the building, as marchers appeared to be heading towards the building.
Sarwar, who is also a Glasgow MSP, added that many of those marching in the city were 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”.
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.”
Human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar added: "What exactly did the mob of several hundred masked men want to do, had they succeeded in getting to Central Mosque?
"We should not have to rely on the police to block bridges to the Southside, nor should our city centres become no-go zones for ethnic minorities, but the city that gave us ‘Kenmure Street’, became a no-go zone for so many of us last night.
"The far-right are weaponising every horrific attack to whip up hatred against entire communities. This has to stop and it cannot be defeated by just our political leaders making statements. We need the silent majority, our trade unions, students, political parties, religious groups to take a stand."
First Minister John Swinney said the scenes were “unacceptable”.
Speaking to press 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.”
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.”
Scottish Green co-leader Ross Greer described those in Glasgow as “scumbags”.
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.”
