Organisers of a peaceful protest outside Glasgow City Chambers have had to evacuate an 'unsafe' George Square midway through their rally after a Loyalist group confronted them.
Police were forced to move in and separate the two groups of protesters in Glasgow city centre as tensions threatened to boil over.
Video from the scene shows a long line of officers coming between members of a Loyalist rally and protesters campaigning for the rights of asylum seekers.
Flashpoints erupted in the city centre as those attending the National Defence League rally were involved in sporadic clashes with the No Evictions Glasgow activists.
One clip shows cops chasing a demonstrator.
Chanting and shouting can be heard in other videos. Scottish Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf branded the Loyalist group "racist" and said arrests had been made.
He tweeted: "Briefed by Police Scotland on disorder in George Sq. Let's not mince our words, this has nothing to do with statues and everything to do with racist thuggery. Police have made a number of arrests already and will continue to take all necessary action against those responsible."
As the tensions escalated the No Evictions Glasgow activists decided to leave the square in order to protect those attending.
Taking to Twitter, they wrote: "It’s been decided the location of the demo at this time is not safe so we are going to leave the area as a group.
"If you haven’t made it in don’t try get in and stay away from the square.
"Try and make sure you are not alone if you are at the demo or in the vicinity"
The clashes came after the NDL arrived in George Square at 5pm in order to 'defend the Cenotaph' following a similar demonstration last weekend that erupted in violence.
The Loyalist group gathered just an hour before those supporting asylum seekers arrived. The Glasgow No Evictions organisation are campaigning for those who have been "refused food in hotels" and have to live on the streets.
Police Scotland earlier urged people not to attend the events.
Chief Superintendent Mark Hargreaves said: “We are aware of planned demonstrations in the George Square area this evening, and while we will police them appropriately and proportionately, our clear advice is that people should not attend these events, but to find alternate methods to protest in order to minimise any risks to public safety or health.
“We would encourage everyone to continue to follow the Scottish Government’s regulations and guidance to aid the collective effort to protect the NHS and save lives by preventing the virus from spreading."
Ahead of the event, the NDL said: "Another attempt by the extreme left’s rent a mob Antifa to bring division and anarchy to this countries streets.
"While the politicians sit idly by and the police have their hands tied by the powers that be. It will again fall on the Glaswegian public to make the stand.
"All that can attend are welcome. Usual drills do not engage, we are there to protect the memorial to The Fallen, The Cenotaph.
"Allow Police Scotland to do their job.
"Anyone attending please adhere to the above request. Do not bring discredit to the city, the veterans or any organisation you may represent."
It comes after another Loyalist group were slammed for disorder at George Square last weekend.
Protesters were branded 'utterly shameful' by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon after violent clashes broke out.
Hundreds descended on George Square to guard the statue of Metropolitan Police founder Robert Peel on Sunday in an event organised by a group called the Loyalist Defence League, after a protest was organised to call for its removal.
The original protest, organised by the Glasgow Youth Art Collective, was postponed due to what organisers say was a lack of access to the square and "police targeting activists".
But police dressed in riot gear were forced to step in as a small group of counter-protesters were targeted and attacked with missiles.
Those organising this evening's Glasgow No Evictions rally wrote: "Join us for a peaceful demonstration at George Square on Wednesday, June 17.
"This demonstration is organised by people who have been refusing food in hotels they have been forced into by Mears.
"People seeking asylum have been forcefully removed from their homes into cramped, degrading and unsafe hotels.
"They have had their financial support withdrawn. The food provided is substandard in quality, low in nutritional value and culturally inappropriate."
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiYmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmRhaWx5cmVjb3JkLmNvLnVrL25ld3Mvc2NvdHRpc2gtbmV3cy9hc3lsdW0tc2Vla2VyLXByb3Rlc3RlcnMtZXZhY3VhdGUtdW5zYWZlLTIyMjA5MjUx0gFmaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGFpbHlyZWNvcmQuY28udWsvbmV3cy9zY290dGlzaC1uZXdzL2FzeWx1bS1zZWVrZXItcHJvdGVzdGVycy1ldmFjdWF0ZS11bnNhZmUtMjIyMDkyNTEuYW1w?oc=5
2020-06-17 18:54:59Z
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