Snarling racists bring shame to Scotland

FACES twisted with hate as they scream their sickening bile, racist morons shamed Scotland yesterday.

Around 70 members of the newly formed Scottish Defence League took to Glasgow's streets to spread their vile anti-Muslim message.

As ordinary shoppers looked on in fear and disgust, the snarling, right-wing yobs chanted foul-mouthed sectarian slogans and held up banners proclaiming: "Ban the Burqa".

Some made Nazi salutes while others flicked V-signs and other offensive gestures at cops and passers-by.

A major police operation involving hundreds of officers stopped clashes between the thugs and anti-racist protesters degenerating into a riot.

Only five arrests were made. But last night a horrified onlooker said: "It was absolutely DISGUSTING that this mob were allowed into the city."

Sickeningly, the hate group's march came in the same week that evil Christopher Miller, 25, was caged for at least 18 years for the racist murder of Indian navy officer Kunal Mohanty, 30, in the city's Gorbals district - and the BNP took fourth place in the Glasgow North East by-election.

But the SDL's nauseating protest was dwarfed by a counter-demo held by Scotland United to celebrate the nation's multi-culturalism.

The News of the World followed the SDL scumbags as they tried to create MAYHEM across the city.

We looked on as a group of around 15 were cornered by cops at the Iron Horse Bar, near Central Station.

One by one, the shaven-headed neds, full of cheap beer, were taken from the pub and photographed by uniformed officers.

After being questioned and their identities noted, they were marched to the nearby Cambridge Bar - which had been cordoned off by cops.

Bemused shoppers watched as cops armed with CS gas canisters escorted them through the city centre.

Dozens of police cars and vans lined the streets in the Cowcaddens as cops on motorbikes circled the area and a helicopter kept watch from above.

More SDL groups arrived and were photographed by cops before joining their twisted cronies on the other side of the cordon.

The neds hung their banners on windows and chanted bigoted slogans. A full-scale battle looked to be on the cards as anti-fascist protesters arrived on the scene.

But police officers quickly moved into position to keep the baying mobs apart. For around 40 minutes, the protesters stood in lashing rain to TAUNT the SDL, who remained under tight police guard in the pub.

The stand-off was resolved when the anti-fascist group headed off to join the Scotland United demo.

Only then were the SDL racists allowed to emerge from the pub to stage their own protest.

An army of cops surrounded them as they trudged towards Sauchiehall Street waving banners and chanting more vile slogans.

Some passers-by heckled the yobs before the SDL members were rounded up and marched on to waiting buses. Under a heavy police escort, the sneering creeps banged the double-deckers' windows and continued shouting.

They were driven to Kinning Park in the south side of the city before being dispersed.

A large police presence remained in the city centre to ensure SDL members didn't try to return. But there were clashes at busy Central Station involving some racists and campaigners from United Against Fascism.

A witness told the News of the World: "A group of protesters went charging at the SDL lot, shouting 'Nazi Scum'.

"But cops managed to intervene before anyone was hurt. About four men were then bundled into police vans."

Meanwhile, around 1,500 people marched through Glasgow to show their DISGUST for the SDL's right-wing extremists. The protest was organised by Scotland United, a group backed by politicians, trade unionists and faith groups.

Lawyer Aamer Anwar was among the speakers at a rally in Glasgow Green, which was followed by a march to George Square and a minute's silence for victims of racial violence.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon condemned groups that perpetuate hatred and bigotry. She said: "It is important for the whole nation to send a clear message condemning all forms of bigotry and discrimination."

Last night Assistant Chief Constable Fiona Taylor said: "Having two high-profile demonstrations in the city at the same time was always going to be a challenge.

"But the day passed off with only minor incidents reported."

She confirmed five people were arrested for breach of the peace.

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