Key facts
- Police Scotland has warned the public to fact-check online claims before attending protests.
- Several nights of disorder have occurred in Glasgow, with crowds gathering outside homes.
- These gatherings were reportedly orchestrated by individuals from outside Glasgow and based on misinformation.
- One protest was a case of mistaken identity, targeting an individual not charged with an offense.
- Five police officers were injured during the protests, and two men were arrested for attacking police.
Police in Glasgow have issued a stern warning against the spread of misinformation online, particularly as it relates to protests that have devolved into disorder. Authorities stated that several nights of disturbances in Scotland's largest city were "clearly orchestrated by individuals who are not from Glasgow" and were based on false claims. Large gatherings occurred in the Cranhill and Castlemilk neighborhoods following online speculation that men accused of serious crimes resided there. In one instance, a protest was based on mistaken identity, targeting an individual who had not been charged with any offense. Similar disorder took place in Royston in response to an alleged sexual assault. In all cases, no one has been convicted of the attacks that prompted the protests. Five police officers sustained injuries during these events, leading to the arrest of two men for assaulting officers. Assistant Chief Constable Alan Waddell of Police Scotland noted that misinformation is being amplified by external actors, sometimes targeting individuals based on their ethnic background. He stressed the importance of lawful and peaceful protest, urging the public not to participate in events generated online that aim to cause disruption or violence. David Kennedy from the Scottish Police Federation described the scenes as "disgraceful" and stated that people were being "manipulated" by outside influences, emphasizing that hate crime and disorder are not legitimate forms of protest.