Police have issued a stern warning about hate crime and violent disorder following the deployment of officers to several protests in Glasgow over alleged sexual assaults. The caution was issued after numerous individuals gathered outside a property on Tormusk Road, Castlemilk, around 6.50pm on Wednesday, where windows were reportedly smashed.
The crowd believed a suspected sex offender resided in the area and demanded his removal, but police confirmed it was a case of mistaken identity. Chief Superintendent Stevie Dolan urged the public to abide by the law, form their "own interpretation" of online information, and trust that the police possess accurate information and will police their communities appropriately. He emphasised that certain individuals had been attempting to "influence" the actions of local residents.
Police Scotland Statement
A spokesperson for Police Scotland underscored: "Violence, disorder, hate crime and threatening behaviour that poses a risk to safety is not legitimate protest. Anyone who engages in these offences will be dealt with swiftly and robustly." They further added: "Policing in Scotland has strong relationships with the public and we are grateful for the ongoing support of our communities."
Earlier Protests in Cranhill and Royston
This follows a day of turmoil on Tuesday at approximately 3pm, when a significant police presence was also dispatched to reports of a protest and disturbance in Lamlash Crescent, Cranhill. Police have reported that a 50-year-old man was arrested and charged in relation to an assault on a police officer. In footage viewed by STV News, protesters could be heard shouting "beast" as police officers guarded a block of flats.
The outrage reportedly ignited after locals believed a 20-year-old, who had been charged with an alleged assault in May the previous year, had relocated to the neighbourhood. Another man was also charged with rape at the same time, with both individuals released on bail. Last Friday, police were additionally called to the Royston area when residents obstructed roads in protest following an alleged sexual assault. A 40-year-old man named Mohamed Raouf Mezahdi was previously arrested on suspicion of sexual offences.
Orchestrated Incidents?
David Kennedy, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, expressed to BBC Scotland News his belief that these incidents were not coincidental. "The events we have seen in Glasgow over the last couple of nights have clearly been orchestrated. It is not coincidental from what I have seen. It has been horrendous for the cops that have been attending these incidents and horrendous for members of the public that have obviously had to witness it." Kennedy stated that the "level of hostility" directed towards the police was not something they were accustomed to in Scotland, which was "very concerning to see".
Commentator Warns City 'About to Explode'
A well-known Scottish commentator issued a warning that the streets of Glasgow were "about to explode" following a series of incidents. Social media commentator Brian Spanner stated in a series of posts: "I see the very notion that the estates around Glasgow are about to explode was all in my imagination again. This has been a couple of years in the making."
Scottish Government Response
A spokesperson for the Scottish government said: "Ministers are clear that there is no place for criminality or hate crime on our streets, and fully support Police Scotland to take appropriate and proportionate action in response to such behaviour."
