Two police and three others injured in racist attacks in Glasgow after protests

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Hundreds gathered in protest in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen following a stabbing in Belfast
Five people, including two police officers, during the unrest in Glasgow
A 30-year-old Sudanese man, with leave to remain in the UK until 2028, has been charged with attempted murder
Hadi Alodid is charged with the attempted stabbing murder of Stephen Ogilvie
Worshippers had to be locked in Glasgow’s largest mosque as tensions flared in the city
First Minister John Swinney described the scenes as “unacceptable”

Two police officers and three members of the public, who were the victims of racist attacks, were injured during unrest in Glasgow.

Three people were also arrested after emergency services were called to the city centre at around 8pm.

Dozens of officers, riot vans, and a helicopter were deployed, with a large presence near St Enoch shopping centre and Buchanan Street.

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Hadi Alodid, a 30-year-old Sudanese man, has appeared at Belfast Magistrates’ Court

The group appeared to be mostly young men dressed all in black, protesting immigration. It comes after an attempted murder of Stephen Ogilvie in Belfast on Monday, which sparked violence in Northern Ireland.

A 30-year-old Sudanese man who was given leave to remain in the UK until 2028 was charged and appeared in court on Wednesday.

Police Scotland confirmed two officers were injured while responding to the unrest in the city centre. Three other people were injured in attacks “because of the colour of their skin”.

One video, seen by STV News and shared in neo-Nazi groups, shows what appears to be a violent incident at St Enoch, in which attackers can be heard using racist language.

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Stephen Ogilvie is in hospital having lost his left eye in a knife attack on Monday.

Police have arrested and charged three men, aged 31, 18 and 18 in connection with various offences.

Officers also attended peaceful demonstrations in Edinburgh, Falkirk, Perth, Ayr, and Paisley where no arrests were made.

Assistant Chief Constable Alan Waddell condemned the violence seen in Glasgow and stated there is “no place for racism and violence in Scotland”.

He said: “Officers responded to disorder and violence, including incidents in Glasgow where members of the public were attacked because of the colour of their skin. Officers were also attacked.

“I would strongly condemn that offending and send a clear message that there is no place for racism and violence in Scotland.

“Officers continue to be in local areas and we are engaged with communities to show support and listen to concerns.

“We have an appropriate policing plan in place, including strong links across UK policing to ensure we are prepared to deal with any escalation in disorder, and we will mobilise specialist resources if necessary.”

Scotland’s largest mosque locked down due to unrest

Worshippers had to be locked in Glasgow’s largest mosque as tensions flared in the city, according to the Scottish Labour Leader Anas Sarwar.

He added that many of those marching in the city had been clad in balaclavas and black hoodies, saying their behaviour was “intimidating” to passers-by, particularly those from certain minority backgrounds.

The party leader said 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”.

Mr 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.”

Politicians condemn ‘masked men on street corners’

Following the demonstrations across Scotland and the unrest seen in Glasgow, political leaders have condemned the “unacceptable” scenes.

First Minister John Swinney took to X to state that “racism, hatred and intimidation have no place in Scotland”.

He said: First Minister comments following demonstrations in locations across Scotland

First Minister John Swinney said: “The events which have followed the horrific and senseless knife attack in Belfast will be extremely concerning for communities who are already experiencing fear, anxiety and uncertainty.

“The scenes we saw in Glasgow and other locations last night are completely unacceptable. Scotland is a welcoming nation and those who choose to make their lives here are valued members of our communities. No one should be made to feel scared in a place they call home, and the actions of those involved do not reflect Scotland’s values.

“I utterly condemn this behaviour and stand firmly against acts that stoke any form of violence and intolerance. And I want to be clear – racism, hatred and intimidation have no place in Scotland, and we must be united in standing against it.

“I thank Police Scotland for their efforts to ensure people’s safety. Ministers have been briefed on the policing operation and will continue to engage closely with Police Scotland over the coming days.”

Glasgow City Council leader, Susan Aitken, believes demonstrators are “entitled” to their views on immigration; however, she added that “targeting minorities is not a protest”.

A post on social media read:“The attack that took place in Belfast on Monday night was truly horrific.

“But any politician or campaigner who can look at that kind of brutality and think the response should be more violence – or who can listen to the family of Henry Nowak in their grief and ignore their wishes – has something deeply rotten in their heart.

“People are entitled to their views on immigration, but putting masked men on street corners with the intention of targeting minorities is not a protest – and nobody should allow them that veneer of respectability.

“We all know who is stirring up these tensions and we all know the kind of people, often very far from our streets, who are pulling their strings. They are not on the side of our communities.”