Police in Scotland have warned that hate crime and violent disorder will be met with swift action after hundreds of people gathered outside a property in Glasgow. Officers said the incident in Castlemilk was not a legitimate protest.
The gathering took place on Tormusk Road on the evening of Wednesday, July 8th, where windows were reportedly smashed and a rock was thrown from the crowd. Police later said officers had spoken to the group, which then dispersed.
The warning followed a separate disturbance on Tuesday in the Cranhill area, where police were called to a large crowd outside a block of flats. Senior officers said the events appeared to have been influenced by people outside the local area, possibly beyond Glasgow.
Police Scotland said inquiries into vandalism were continuing and stressed that criminality and threatening behavior would not be tolerated. The force also said the person at the address in Castlemilk “presents no threat to the community.”
Scottish government ministers backed the police response, while the Scottish Police Federation said the incidents were not reflective of normal behavior in Scotland and had placed officers under intense pressure.
While police commentary mentions “hate” and the targeting of specific individuals or groups in local housing, it is otherwise secretive about the nature of public concerns. Instead of mentioning Scotland-wide frustration with migrant crime, officials point to outsiders stirring up trouble with online ‘misinformation.’
