Protests across Scotland follow Belfast knife attack

Protests across Scotland follow Belfast knife attack 1 hour ago Share Save Add as preferred on Google Iona Young BBC Scotland News BBC Demonstrators marched through St Enoch Square in Glasgow Protests have taken place in several locations across Scotland, as disorder flared in Belfast following a knife attack. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered at locations in Glasgow city centre with their faces covered. Many were chanting, with Union flags and banners on show. Dozens of protesters also demonstrated at St Andrew Square in Edinburgh before marching along Princes Street shouting with blue flares and saltires. About 100 also staged a demonstration in Ayr. A large number of police officers were deployed in Glasgow and diverted the protesters away from the city centre. A number of streets and bridges were also closed. Street protests in Scotland after Belfast knife attack It comes after a man was charged with attempted murder over Monday's knife attack in Belfast. The 30-year-old has also been charged with possession of an article with blade or point in a public place and threats to kill. The victim of the attack suffered injuries to his eyes, back and face. Police described the alleged attacker as a Sudanese man. Protesters gathered in Belfast following the events, where bins have been set alight and a bus has been burnt out. A number of demonstrations then broke out across Scotland and the rest of the UK. Police blocked roads and closed bridges in Glasgow Police closed bridges in Glasgow while the demonstrations were taking place A BBC Scotland reporter at the scene in Glasgow described "clusters of antisocial behaviour" taking place across the city centre with at least one arrest. He said: "We arrived at about 19:30 to the car park at St Enoch's Centre and saw people running to safety. "There were about 300 protesters behind them mostly wearing dark colours with balaclavas and face coverings. "Behind them was a huge police presence that drove the group out of the city centre across some of the bridges at the Clyde. "A number of those bridges have been completely sealed off by the police. Union Street is also covered with police vans." Police moved the protesters away from the city centre The Glasgow branch of Stand up to Racism said it condemned the "repugnant scenes emerging from a last-minute gathering by fascists and far right thugs in Glasgow city centre". In a social media post, it said: "Masked-up racist thugs have assembled at Buchanan steps and marched down the street. The livestream by one of their supporters shows marchers stealing a bike from a delivery driver and beating up passers-by. "Glaswegians of all backgrounds and and of all faiths and none will stand together against any attempts to spread violence and hatred in our communities. "Time and again we have shown the far right a majority of us reject their poison." Masked demonstrators marched down Princes Street in Edinburgh Scotland Glasgow Edinburgh Ayr