Twenty-eight arrested over Rangers title chaos with 'many more to follow'

Police chiefs have warned "many more arrests will follow" after Rangers fans brawled and threw missiles at officers during chaotic title celebrations on Saturday that saw 15,000 lay siege to Glasgow city centre.

At least three officers were injured, with one suffering a serious face wound, while trying to marshal ranks of unruly fans on Saturday evening. Twenty-eight people had been arrested yesterday.

Fans defied a Covid ban on mass gatherings and warnings about the Indian variant circulating in the city to mass in George Square to celebrate the club's first Scottish Premiership title in a decade, setting off fireworks and flares.

Nicola Sturgeon yesterday condemned the "disgraceful scenes" and sectarian chanting among the crowd, adding: "To say I'm utterly disgusted by the Rangers fans who rampaged through the city would be an understatement."

The First Minister blamed a "thuggish minority who seem to care little for the risks they pose to other people" and argued their celebrations were "selfish beyond belief" given the Covid threat in the city.

Footage on social media showed packs of flag-draped fans attacking each other, and launching traffic cones, plastic bollards and other missiles at lines of riot gear-clad police officers.

Images showed George Square strewn with hundreds of broken bottles, plastic bags and spent flares after crowds were moved out of the area at around 9pm.

An accident and emergency department source told the PA news agency one man came into hospital "missing half his hand" after a firework he was holding blew up.

Ass Ch Const Gary Ritchie said: "The gathering was initially peaceful and throughout the day Police Scotland managed the crowd appropriately, tackling anti-social behaviour and encouraging dispersal under Scottish Government Coronavirus regulations.

“However, later the crowd in the square became aggressive and violent, fighting with each other, as the effects of alcohol took hold.

“At this point, public order officers moved in to break up the crowd and make them disperse. They began to throw missiles at us and five officers were injured, which is unacceptable. No one should expect to be assaulted when they go to their work."

He rejected criticism officers should have used force earlier, saying this " can have the opposite effect and actually trigger violence and disorder."

"We will be continuing our enquiries and my message is clear that if you have been involved in these ugly scenes then you will be identified and arrested, " he added. Deputy Chief Constable Will Kerr said that "many more arrests will follow in the coming weeks".

In a message posted on Twitter, Ms Sturgeon said: "In normal times, the violence & vandalism, and the vile anti Catholic prejudice that was on display, would have been utterly unacceptable. But mid-pandemic, in a city with cases on the rise, it was also selfish beyond belief.

"People across the country still living under the most difficult restrictions - not able to see family or attend weddings and funerals - are rightly furious at the irresponsible actions of a thuggish minority who seem to care little for the risks they pose to other people."

Humza Yousaf, the Scottish Justice Secretary, said it was "disgraceful" that officers were subject to "the kind of thuggery we saw last night". He tweeted: "Incidents of violence, disorder, anti-Catholic & any other hatred will be followed up."

Rangers defeated Aberdeen 4-0 at Ibrox before collecting the Scottish Premiership silverware. Fans had been warned against gathering to celebrate due to rising Covid-19 cases in Glasgow.

However, thousands of supporters outside Ibrox were cheering and chanting as the Rangers players arrived for the 12.30pm kick-off, before marching into the heart of the city after the game.

Calum Steele, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, said officers had suffered "broken bones, lost teeth" as they faced the worst violence many had experienced in 20 years. He attacked the "warm words" for their bravery after five years of cuts.

Several hundred demonstrators gathered yesterday in George Square for a rally in solidarity with Palestinians, just hours after the area was cleared of a sea of broken glass and debris left by Rangers fans celebrating the club's league title.