A junior doctor has recounted his terror after witnessing two black men allegedly being brutally attacked by a masked mob during a 'White Lives Matter' protest in Glasgow city centre.
Ben Clarke, 25, was cycling along the Clydeside on Tuesday evening when he stumbled upon what he describes as a shocking racist assault carried out by members of a crowd linked to a 'far-right' demonstration. The GP practice doctor says he watched in horror as two men were kicked and beaten while lying defenceless on the ground near Glasgow Bridge at around 7.30pm.
According to Ben, many of those involved were masked men wearing balaclavas, with some sporting branded clothing from Rangers ultras group, the Union Bears.
Speaking about the disturbing scenes, Ben said: 'Two innocent people were attacked purely because of the colour of their skin. As I and others there tried to administer medical help and call ambulances that were being impeded because they were black. It was terrifying.'
'There were hundreds of masked up folk, with Union Jacks and Union Bear branded clothing storming towards you looking to attack any person of colour in sight. Both were being kicked while on the floor and were covered in blood.'
'They were obviously aware of how wrong it was because I was being asked if I had recorded any of it. They were worried about repercussions.'
'There are areas along that area of the Clydeside where people of darker skin typically hang out. This mob must have known that and targeted that area right on the river.'
But the young medic says his attempts to provide emergency treatment were met with chilling threats from members of the crowd.
'The first man was in a bad way. He had lots of blood on his head, significant head issues and was clearly concussed. As I was helping, members of this group began approaching me and shouting threats like, "Don't you help him. If you do then we will do you in."'
'My first thought was to help but I wasn't being allowed to do that. I'm a doctor so I was there helping on a strictly medical basis and I didn't once answer back in fear they would hurt me too.'
'People have died from similar attacks, this mob is lucky they never. They were obviously aware of how wrong it was because I was being asked if I had recorded any of it. They were worried about repercussions.'
Hundreds of people were spotted on the steps of Buchanan Galleries following a horror 'stabbing' in Belfast where Stephen Ogilvie, 44, suffered serious injuries that resulted in the loss of his eye. The alleged attack took place at 10pm on Monday, June 8.
A 30-year-old Sudanese man has appeared in court in Belfast charged with attempted murder. Hadi Alodid, 30, stood before Belfast Magistrates' Court facing charges of attempted murder of Mr Ogilvie, making threats to kill an NHS radiographer and possessing a knife.
Demonstrations were also held in Edinburgh, Paisley and Ayr, with many mobsters donning face coverings and waving Saltire and Union Jack flags. The rallies have sparked a large police response, with over a dozen cop cars spotted in Glasgow's Jamaica Street.
Photographs seen by the Record show a wall of officers blocking off Glasgow bridge, just off Jamaica Street, as well as Buchanan Street. Three men, aged 31, 18 and 18, have been arrested and charged in connection with various offences in Glasgow during the evening. Two officers were injured and three members of the public were injured, all in Glasgow.
Ben claims the crowd's anger was directed at the victims because of the colour of their skin. He continued: 'The mob were angry and shouting, "They did this to us so now we're going to do it to them." A couple of passers-by tried to phone an ambulance and they were being shouted at to put their phones away or be hurt.'
The doctor then rushed to assist a second victim. 'The group moved along and I sprinted over to check on the second chap, a defenceless middle-aged man. He was on the ground wailing in pain. He had a significant wound on his arm.'
Police eventually arrived as the crowd moved towards Glasgow city centre, with Ben providing officers with a statement. While speaking to police, he says tensions remained high. Ben said: 'I gave the police a statement and while doing so, people were driving by shouting at the officers saying, "If you were doing your job then none of this would have happened in the first place."'
The disturbing scenes did not end there. Ben says he later cycled towards the St Enoch Centre and witnessed police taking extraordinary measures to protect people of colour from the advancing crowd. He noted: 'I cycled into the city centre, towards the St Enoch Centre and witnessed police having to physically barricade people with dark skin in the shopping centre to keep them safe from the group outside.'
Anti-racism campaigners condemned the gathering, describing it as a far-right event and alleging attendees assaulted passers-by. Stand Up To Racism Glasgow claimed those involved sought to 'create division' and spread hatred within communities. Police Scotland have been approached for comment.
