Overview
- Police Scotland said about 1,700 people took part in demonstrations in Glasgow on Saturday and that 15 people have been arrested for offences including assault, possession of offensive weapons, breach of the peace and hate‑motivated offending.
- Reform UK Scotland deputy leader Thomas Kerr has formally asked Police Scotland to investigate a speech Aamer Anwar made at a counter‑protest, saying the remarks encouraged hostility towards people by political view, nationality, ethnicity or cultural identity.
- Aamer Anwar rejected the complaint and defended his comments as criticism of 'racist thugs', arguing police should focus on identifying masked far‑right attackers and calling Kerr a 'wannabe tartan Tommy Robinson'.
- Senior figures condemned the weekend disorder with Chief Constable Jo Farrell calling the scenes 'disgraceful' and First Minister John Swinney calling the rally a 'demonstration of far‑right hatred', and police say they are continuing a major investigation.
- The episode follows earlier sectarian and knife attacks cited in speeches and has been amplified by far‑right figures and Reform party participants, a dynamic that could shape policing decisions, political accountability and how courts draw the line between strong political speech and criminal hate speech.