Scottish loyalists and BLM protesters demanding the removal of Glasgow’s Sir Robert Peel statue hurl missiles at each other and clash with riot police – as officers make astonishing claim the trouble was not linked to BLM demo
Clashes between rival groups in Glasgow today were not related to a Black Lives Matter protest, say police in an astonishing claim, despite hundreds of protesters gathering and forcing a BLM demonstration to be called off.
Rival groups were seen throwing missiles at each other near the city’s George Square, over the heads of police officers in riot gear.
BLM supporters had intended to gather in the square to campaign for the removal of a statue of former Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel.
However, they were unable to gain access to it after clashing with hundreds of counter-demonstrators who rushed to the scene to ‘defend’ the monument.
Organisers of the ‘Peel must fall’ campaign, run by the Glasgow Youth Art Collective, said they were forced to abandon the protest after claiming that they couldn’t access the square and activists were being ‘targeted’ by police.
Other clips showed ‘loyalists’ clashing with police, with one officer seemingly pulled to the ground, despite there being no BLM activists nearby.
Despite the comments, and the hundreds of statue defenders, Police Scotland remarkably claimed that the clashes were not linked to a BLM gathering.
Police officers move in to position in central Glasgow to form a barrier between opposing groups
A group of statue ‘defenders’ walk the streets in central Glasgow trying to find an opposition group
A line of riot police stand across a main road in central Glasgow. The BLM protest was called off amid the large loyalist presence
Chief Superintendent Alan Murray said: ‘Police Scotland can confirm that officers were aware of a disturbance near George Square, Glasgow today.
‘At this time the incident does not appear to be connected to a Black Lives Matter protest.’
The original protest was cancelled by Glasgow Youth Art Collective after it claimed it could not access George Square and ‘police targeting activists’.
A group of those looking to see the statue removed were being escorted down North Hanover Street in the city when they overtook the police escort and began running towards George Square.
Crowds gather at the Robert Peel Statue in George Square, ahead of a Black Lives Matter protest calling for its removal
Police try to control crowds that have gathered at the Robert Peel Statue in George Square, Glasgow
Hundreds of counter-protesters began running towards the group before police were able to get in between the two.
Missiles could be seen flying between the two groups as police – with their batons drawn – formed a line across the street.
Those looking to see the statue removed were forced back up North Hanover Street by police.
A police helicopter was deployed and could be seen flying over the city centre.