A RALLY organised by fascist astro-turfers Unite the Clans ended in racially fuelled abuse, attacks on socialists and 15 arrests in Glasgow on Saturday.

The 550-strong rabble of self-identified “patriots” gathered in Glasgow Green to share thoughts such as “I’m a Nazi and I love it,” practise their sieg heils and listen to a speech from local Reform councillor Audrey Dempsey.

At the green, however, they were met by about 4,000 anti-fascists  in a counterdemonstration organised by Stand Up to Racism and backed by myriad trade unions and community groups.

Interactions had remained largely verbal, but matters took a turn for the worse as speeches got under way at the SUTR rally, with hundreds of far-right activists running towards a footbridge in a bid to march on the Central Mosque.

Outrunning police, their path was blocked by a handful of anti-fascists before mounted police intervened. Amid scuffles and arrests, the mob ran towards the SUTR rally only to be met with calls of “No pasaran” as the rally linked arms to stand firm.

Put back in their pen near a children’s park, the rabble broke apart to maraud through the city, harassing anyone they perceived as “illegal” and engaging in a stand-off with police at Oswald Street.

The Communist Party’s regular stall on their city’s main shopping thoroughfare, Buchanan Street, also became a target, being attacked three times in the course of the afternoon.

Stallholder Tam Morrison told the Star: “If anyone doubted the threat from these thugs, it’s real now.

“We need activists from across the left, from across the labour and trade union movement not just to stand with us at the stall but organise and drive this off our streets.

“Let’s put the identity stuff aside: we need class politics now more than ever.”

In a statement, Police Scotland made clear that the weapons found in the park showed the “intention for premeditated disorder, violence and intimidation,” warning: “Extensive enquiries are under way to identify other individuals involved and further arrests will be made.”

Describing the disorder as totally unacceptable, Scotland’s Justice Secretary Neil Gray said: “No area of any city should be an intimidating place to go.

“Any form of hatred, prejudice, intolerance or violence on our streets is abhorrent, and perpetrators will be brought to justice.”

In a statement, SUTR Scotland said: “Masked and uniformed fascist activists were allowed to go on the rampage through the city centre, despite recent racist assaults, while anti-fascists were threatened with section 14 [dispersal notices].

“The events show the power to beat the far right doesn’t lie with the sections of the political class that have emboldened the fascists: it lies with the thousands who took to the streets today and time and again have done so against the far right.”