Unionists giving Nazi salutes, chanting UVF slogans attack independence supporters in Glasgow

» John Hedges

An Phoblacht Editor

Friday evening’s confrontation started quickly with flares being fired and a ‘co-ordinated’ charge from the unionist side, who were singing Rule Britannia, says BBC

MOUNTED POLICE struggled to control 500 unionist supporters waving Union flags –– some giving Nazi salutes and chanting UVF slogans –– after they marched through Glasgow city centre on Friday night in triumph to mark the ‘No’ victory in the Scottish independence referendum.

‘Yes’ campaigners, who have nightly gathered boisterously but peacefully in the city’s famous George Square during the week, were threatened and attacked by unionists.

The aggressive unionist crowd was described by the Independent newspaper as “carrying banners associated with Orange lodges in Glasgow” and their “chants, songs and behaviour resembled a football crowd rather than a political march”.

The BBC, which has been accused during the referendum debate of being biased against the ‘Yes’ to independence campaign, reported:

“BBC Scotland reporter Cameron Buttle, who was at the scene, said Friday evening’s confrontation started quickly with flares being fired and a ‘co-ordinated’ charge from the unionist side, who were singing Rule Britannia.

“Some of the pro-Union side were carrying banners featuring loyalist imagery.”

●  Anti-independence unionists give Nazi salutes 

Eyewitnesses said that unionists burned Scottish Saltire flags (others had their flags stolen) despite the ‘No’ side’s insistence that they were proud to be both British and Scottish.

Saturday’s Scottish Sun headlined on its front page: “Unionist thugs on rampage.”

Several arrests were made.

◼︎  A fire at the offices of the Sunday Herald newspaper, the only paper to back a ‘Yes’ vote, was claimed to be a coincidence even though some did blame unionists.

The Sunday Herald’s own Twitter account said:

“To clarify . . . There WAS a fire outside our building but no evidence linking it to unionist thugs elsewhere in city.”