Shameful scenes which have no place in Scotland

According to the police, people were “attacked because of the colour of their skin” while worshippers had to stay locked inside Glasgow’s largest mosque for their safety.

Two police officers and three innocent members of the public were hurt. Why? What exactly did this achieve other than striking fear into the public on a sunny June evening?

Senior officers and politicians are right to condemn the racist attacks, but they must go further. Put simply this cannot be allowed to happen again.

The Scotsman will always defend the right to peaceful protest, it is one of the cornerstones of our democracy. But when the action is instead designed to intimidate, to spark violence, and place communities in danger then it crosses a dangerous line.

Responding to the riots in Belfast, the family of Stephen Ogilvie, the Scottish victim of the attack, bravely called for an end to hostilities.

"We want to make it absolutely clear that overnight unrest is not welcome, and peaceful protest is the only way forward," the family say.

"We have many migrants who make a deeply valuable contribution to our country, including in our healthcare system and hospitality sector and we depend on them to make our country work."

They added they do not want this "terrible tragedy to be used to divide people or fuel hostility". Their words should be heard in Scotland, as well as Northern Ireland.

That, at this most awful time, they have had to issue a statement in response to the actions of a minority is disgraceful, and something which those involved in the violent scenes should consider. There are rightly many concerns around the circumstances of the attack on Mr Ogilvie in Belfast, and there must, in time, be answers.

But resorting to shameful violence is not the way to get them.