Scottish political leaders have united in condemning the disorder, violence, and racism that erupted in Glasgow following a stabbing attack in Northern Ireland. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar revealed that worshippers had to be locked inside Glasgow Central Mosque as tensions flared in the city.
Violence Erupts in Belfast and Scotland
On Tuesday night, violence broke out on the streets of Belfast in response to a knife attack on Monday. The unrest quickly spread to Scotland, with protests taking place in several areas, including Glasgow city centre. A man has appeared in court charged with the attack, and the 44-year-old victim, Stephen Ogilvie, is reported to have lost an eye.
Protesters in Glasgow invoked the memory of murdered 18-year-old Henry Nowak, with one banner reading “white lives matter”. Videos on social media show violent clashes between the protesters and members of the public.
Political Leaders Respond
Scottish Greens co-leader Ross Greer branded the participants “scumbags”, while First Minister John Swinney described the scenes as “unacceptable”. Mr Sarwar told the Press Association that the marchers, many clad in balaclavas and black hoodies, attempted to march towards the mosque, forcing worshippers to be locked inside with police protection.
“That is not the right response to this disorder and actually it is not Glasgow,” Mr Sarwar said. “It is not the best of humanity, I think in many ways that demonstrates the worst of humanity.” He stressed that the public would have had nothing to do with the attacker in Belfast and would be equally horrified by the attack.
Mr Greer told BBC Radio Scotland’s Breakfast programme: “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.”
First Minister John Swinney posted on X: “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.”
Health Secretary Angela Constance called for calm, telling those involved to “just go home and behave yourself”. She added: “Our communities don’t need this level of disruption.” The former justice secretary assured that Police Scotland takes these matters very seriously and will follow up on any complaints or investigations.
Ms Constance emphasised: “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.”
