Police raid homes in Celtic title disorder crackdown as four arrested

Police have arrested four men following raids at properties across Glasgow and Lanarkshire in connection with disorder seen during the Celtic title party.

Two officers were seriously injured, and three members of the public needed hospital treatment after thousands of Celtic fans descended on the Trongate area of Glasgow to celebrate Celtic’s win over Hearts on May 16.

Frontman Callum Osmand scored in the dying embers of the game to seal the championship and sparked a pitch invasion, with Hearts investor Tony Bloom claiming that their players had been assaulted.

Police Scotland said the celebration descended into unrest after officers moved in to the crowd to assist a member of the public who was unconscious.

Bottles and pyrotechnics were thrown at officers during what has been described as “horrific scenes”.

Ten men, including a 17-year-old, were arrested after disorder broke out in the area following the match, while four were apprehended at the stadium in the city’s East End.

Operation Gristaline

In response to the disorder, Police Scotland launched Operation Gristlaine.

Detectives have reviewed 300 hours of CCTV footage and around 7,000 images as part of the large-scale investigation.

During a day of action in Glasgow on Wednesday, which STV News was invited to attend, both plain-clothed and uniformed officers conducted morning raids at properties.

Warrants were executed at five homes STV News

At around 7am, a battering ram was used at a ground-floor flat in Springburn, while the suspect called for some time as he found his keys.

A second warrant was executed at a tenement block in Govanhill. A door on the first floor was rammed open, but the individual was not located.

Officers established that the home was lived in, and evidence was gathered.

Properties in Bothwell and Blantyre were also raided, with a total of five warrants executed across Glasgow and Lanarkshire.

During the day of action, three men, aged 30, 25, and 21, were arrested and charged in connection with various offences, including assault, culpable and reckless conduct, breach of the peace and fireworks offences, bringing the total to 24. A 30-year-old man was arrested and released pending further enquiries.

Superintendent Derrick Johnston warned that more is expected in the next few weeks in connection with the “disappointing” scenes.

“It’s embarrassing for Scotland that that (the title party) was the image of a final fixture”, he told STV News.

“Lets remember that police officers were there that day to facilitate safety and make sure the event passed as safely as it could.

“So it’s extremely embarrassing and disappointing.”

In late July, Police Scotland released the images of 83 people linked to disorder at the Trongate.

STV News understands that some have since come forward via their lawyers.