Woman charged with hate crime after protest at asylum hotel

A 32-year-old woman has been charged with a hate crime following a protest outside a hotel in Greenock that has been used to house asylum seekers.

Another two men were arrested near the Holiday Inn Express on Wednesday evening and issued with fixed penalty notices for anti-social behaviour offences.

It came 24 hours after disorder and a series of racist assaults in Glasgow following a knife attack in Belfast on Monday.

The woman who was arrested in Greenock is expected to appear at the town's sheriff court on Friday.

Police Scotland said two police vehicles were damaged as items were thrown at officers during the incidents.

Ch Supt Rhona Fraser said: "Our priority is public safety and we had an appropriate policing plan in place for last night's demonstration.

"We understand the concerns people have about their communities and will always balance the right to freedom of expression with the need to tackle crime without fear or favour.

"Officers were attacked and police vehicles were damaged.

"I strongly condemn that violence and there is no place for it in Scotland.

"Officers continue to be in local areas and are engaged with communities to show support and listen to concerns."

Police Scotland previously said five people were injured, including two officers, after hundreds of people wearing masks marched through Glasgow city centre on Tuesday evening.

Assistant Chief Constable Alan Waddell said people were "attacked because of the colour of their skin".

Officers also attended a number of smaller, but peaceful demonstrations on Tuesday in Edinburgh, Falkirk, Perth, Ayr and Paisley, and no arrests were made.

It came as violence broke out in Belfast after Hadi Alodid, from Sudan, was charged with the attempted murder of Stephen Ogilvy in the city.

The Home Office said the alleged attacker entered the UK in 2023 and was given refugee status.

A court in Belfast heard that the victim had lost his left eye, has damage to his right eye, and injuries to his neck and back.

Alodid was remanded in custody.

Belfast saw more unrest on Wednesday night, with a water cannon used to disperse a large crowd at the Sandyknowes roundabout in Glengormley - about eight miles (13km) north-west of the city centre.

In the second night of rioting across Northern Ireland, twelve police officers were injured and 16 people were arrested.

However it was not on the same scale as Tuesday's disorder.

The family of the victim said they did not want this "terrible tragedy to be used to divide people or fuel hostility".

Police Scotland is expected to send about 90 officers to Northern Ireland as part of a mutual aid agreement with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

The Scottish Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, says the total will include five inspectors.

Northern Ireland's Secretary of State Hilary Benn confirmed 200 extra officers from across the UK will be on the ground to help restore order and protect ethnic minorities who are being targeted.

Police Scotland would not confirm numbers but say an agreement was reached following careful consideration "to ensure there is no impact to policing in Scotland".

At First Minister's Questions, John Swinney accused Reform politicians of inciting "racial division" in Scotland.

He cited comments from Reform UK Scotland's deputy leader Thomas Kerr, who on Wednesday called for people to "go out and protest" peacefully against uncontrolled illegal migration.

Kerr added: "I utterly condemn any forms of racism or violence."

He accused the first minister of trying to start a "political bunfight", adding: "Mass migration is pushing Scotland to breaking point … it is right that we are raising those issues."