Grown men on Glasgow’s Buchanan Street were witnessed screaming “send them home” at anyone who was not white, including children, during a wave of disorder that swept the city on Tuesday. The harrowing scenes, described by Scottish Green co-leader Ross Greer, formed part of a wider outbreak of racist violence linked to a stabbing attack in Belfast the previous night.
According to reports Mr Greer said he heard from people in Glasgow, the abuse was directed at non-white individuals of all ages. “You had grown men walking down Buchanan Street screaming at anyone who wasn’t white, including children who were not white, screaming at them, ‘send them home’,” he told BBC Radio Scotland’s Breakfast programme. The Green MSP branded the protesters “racist rioters” and “scumbags”.
Police Scotland confirmed that members of the public were attacked specifically because of the colour of their skin, and that officers were also assaulted. Three men, aged 31, 18 and 18, have been arrested and charged with various offences. Three members of the public and two police officers were injured during the unrest.
Worshippers at Glasgow Central Mosque, Scotland’s largest mosque, were forced to lock themselves inside as tensions flared and marchers appeared to be heading towards the building. Videos circulating on social media showed violent clashes between protesters and members of the public, with some demonstrators carrying a banner reading “White Lives Matter” and invoking the memory of murdered 18-year-old Henry Nowak.
Political and community condemnation
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar described the behaviour of many marchers, who were clad in balaclavas and black hoodies, as “intimidating”, particularly to those from minority backgrounds. First Minister John Swinney condemned the scenes as “unacceptable” and insisted that “racism, hatred and intimidation have no place in Scotland”.
Police Scotland issued a statement 17 hours after the disorder, condemning the behaviour. Assistant Chief Constable Alan Waddell said the force had an “appropriate policing plan in place” to deal with any escalation of disorder. Disruptive but peaceful demonstrations also occurred in Edinburgh, Falkirk, Perth, Ayr and Paisley, where no arrests were made.
The unrest followed a stabbing attack on Monday night in North Belfast. A 30-year-old Sudanese man, Hadi Alodid, has appeared in court charged with attempted murder, possession of a knife and making threats to kill in relation to the attack. The victim, Stephen Ogilvie, 44, reportedly lost an eye. The family of Mr Ogilvie issued a statement calling for calm and emphasising the valuable contributions of migrants.
Broader pattern of Islamophobic attacks
The events at Glasgow Central Mosque are the latest in a series of incidents targeting Muslim places of worship across Scotland. In October 2025, the same mosque was vandalised with graffiti reading “SF Scots First” on its exterior walls, an act Police Scotland investigated as a hate crime, describing the graffiti as “vile” and “unacceptable”. The mosque management said they were “deeply upset” but reaffirmed their commitment to Glasgow and its people. The incident occurred during Islamophobia Awareness Month.
Other recent attacks include a window smashed at Masjid Yusuf in East Renfrewshire in September 2025, described as a “calculated and cowardly attack” while worshippers and students were inside. The Scottish Association of Mosques expressed deep concern, noting a rise in incidents targeting Muslims and mosques. In August 2025, a 17-year-old described as Nazi-obsessed was jailed for ten years for plotting a mass attack on the Inverclyde Muslim Centre in Greenock, having befriended worshippers to gain access.
In March 2025 a teenager threw paint and smashed a window at a mosque in Aberdeen. A mosque in Elgin was targeted for the third time in April 2025, with windows damaged. The Newton Mearns Islamic Centre reported an incident where a man allegedly attacked a schoolgirl and made threats against Muslims. During Ramadan in March 2026, a mosque in Ayrshire had its windows smashed by a spanner-like object while women and children were inside breaking their fast.
Protests outside the Al-Mahdi Mosque in Glasgow have involved demonstrators “waving rats hanged from gallows” and shouting abuse at worshippers. In January 2026, Edinburgh Central Mosque was targeted with graffiti reading “leave Scot” and “get out of Scotland”, an incident treated as a hate crime.
In response to the rising threats, including a foiled terror plot, mosques across Scotland have tightened security. Glasgow Central Mosque has implemented 24-hour security, and other centres have hired guards and upgraded CCTV systems.
Community leaders and organisations, including the Scottish Association of Mosques and Muslim Engagement and Development (MEND), have expressed deep concern and called for action. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) expressed solidarity with Scotland’s Muslim community, condemning the attacks on places of worship.
Councillor Soryia Siddique commented after the 2025 graffiti incident that Glasgow’s strength lies in its diversity, and condemned all forms of hatred and prejudice. First Minister John Swinney, Anas Sarwar and Ross Greer have all strongly condemned the violence, racism and intimidation witnessed during Tuesday’s unrest. Assistant Chief Constable Alan Waddell confirmed the force’s preparedness for any further disorder.
