PROTESTERS clashed in Glasgow after thousands gathered for an anti-racism rally on Saturday.

Police reported clashes between anti-racists and far-right counterprotesters; worshippers at a mosque had to be locked in to shield them from any potential violence.

Some of those taking part in the counterprotest in Buchanan Street in the city centre were seen performing Nazi salutes.

They had gathered in opposition to the “Reclaim our streets — stand up to the far right” demonstration organised by Stand Up to Racism following the racist riots in Belfast.

Racist attacks in the Irish city were sparked after footage of a knife attack in north Belfast last Monday night was shared widely on social media. Hadi Alodid, originally from Sudan, appeared in court on Wednesday charged with attempted murder over the incident in which victim Stephen Ogilvie received serious injuries.

Thousands of anti-racist protesters took part in the action on Saturday, which was fenced off from the smaller counter group by police, before eventually spilling out onto Bath Street under Buchanan Galleries.

Projectiles, including drink cans, were thrown at the anti-racist group, while an egg was thrown back towards the counterprotesters.

Stand Up to Racism co-convener Weyman Bennett said the anti-racist demonstration “vastly outnumbered the far-right nazis,” adding that this group had attempted to “carry out pogroms in the city” in the previous weeks.

Mr Bennett told the Morning Star: “These people had been enabled by Nigel Farage, ‘Tommy Robinson’ and Elon Musk.

“They were hired thugs and mercenaries trying to destabilise the city. Thankfully, socialists, anti-fascists and anti-racists came out in large numbers to oppose them, especially Women Against the Far Right.

“All of us sent our condolences and our solidarity to people that got attacked.

“Here is an attempt at a racist-organised attack that mirrors very much the Brownshirts of the 1930s. We have to redouble our effort to make sure that parties like Reform UK and Restore do not get a real foothold in this country.”

Mr Bennett added that the attacks in Glasgow and Belfast represent a foretaste of what these two hard-right parties have in store for the country if they are not stopped.