GLASGOW — Five Police Scotland officers sustained injuries during recent protests across three areas of Glasgow, and two men were arrested for attacking police. Police Scotland stated the disorder was orchestrated by individuals from outside Glasgow.

Police Scotland warned the public to verify online claims before participating in protests. Assistant Chief Constable Alan Waddell stated that misinformation was being spread online by bad actors, often originating from outside Glasgow. Waddell said these actors were exploiting community fears regarding perceived sex offenders of an ethnic background. He stated, "I spoke in relation to a protest that turned into disorder a few weeks ago, and I was really clear that people had been targeted in Glasgow because of the colour of their skin." Waddell added, "Some of this that we're seeing just now feels like that's been amplified and built upon." He continued, "We've really got to call that out and challenge that." Waddell noted, "The public in Scotland know how to protest, and that's lawfully and peacefully." He advised against attending gatherings generated online with an explicit focus on disrupting, causing disorder, or leading to violence, stating, "If you're enticed to go to one that's been generated online [with] a clear focus on disrupting and causing disorder or moving towards violence, don't go." He added, "If you break the law you should expect to be caught and punished for that."

Large gatherings occurred in the Glasgow neighborhood of Cranhill on Tuesday and Castlemilk on Thursday, both following online speculation that a man accused of serious crimes resided in those areas. The disturbance in Cranhill was spurred by information suggesting a man charged with assault in connection to an alleged rape in Glasgow city center in May had relocated there. Police Scotland later stated the Castlemilk protest was a case of mistaken identity, targeting someone who had not been charged with an offense.

Disorder also occurred in Royston, Glasgow, last week in response to an alleged sexual assault. No individuals have been found guilty of the attacks that prompted the protests in Cranhill, Castlemilk, or Royston.

Police Scotland noted a planned protest outside a Glasgow care home this weekend, which the agency stated was based on untrue rumors that the facility would be closed and converted into accommodation for asylum seekers. David Kennedy, a representative of the Scottish Police Federation, described the scenes as disgraceful. Kennedy stated, "For certain individuals, it's about violence, it's not about protest." He said people in Scotland were being manipulated by outside influences and that hate crime and disorder do not constitute a legitimate form of protest. Kennedy described the disorder as frightening for officers who faced physical attacks and had objects thrown at them. He commented, "To be confronted with this level of violence, is not something we see in Scotland."

Why It Matters

The events in Glasgow involve multiple protests stemming from online allegations about individuals accused of serious crimes, resulting in injuries to police officers and arrests. Police Scotland's statements indicate a pattern of orchestrated disorder fueled by misinformation, targeting specific ethnic groups, and originating from outside the city. The police have urged the public to exercise caution regarding online claims, framing the incidents as a departure from typical peaceful protest in Scotland.