Thousands attend Glasgow anti-racism rally

Thousands of anti-racism protesters have gathered in Glasgow for a rally organised in the wake of the rioting and disorder in England.

A smaller number of people, some of them with their faces masked, were attending an anti-immigration rally in front of the war memorial in George Square.

Police have erected barriers to separate the two groups.

The disorder in England followed false information spread online that an asylum seeker carried out the stabbing in Southport in July in which three young girls died.

The anti-racism rally was organised after reports that an anti-immigration protest would be held in the city, although Glasgow City Council said it had received no formal notification of such an event.

According to a BBC reporter on the scene, between two to three thousand anti-racism activists gathered, about 10 times the number of anti-migration protesters who turned out.

At one point members a number of masked men dressed in black, understood to be members of the Green brigade – a self-styled “ultras” group of Celtic fans – tried to join the protest but were contained by police in a corner of the square.

Speakers including trade unionists, politicians and campaigners addressed the anti-racism rally, which was approved by the city council.

Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken told BBC News neither Scotland nor Glasgow was “immune to the far right”.

She added: “The turnout of people who are here to resist them and more importantly come with a really positive message about diversity and unity in a city like Glasgow – which is Scotland’s most diverse city – is a far bigger number.”