THE far-right Scottish Defence League were joined by members of a banned neo-Nazi group and racist English organisations for a demonstration in Glasgow’s George Square yesterday.

The SDL had complained prior to the rally that their numbers were restricted to 100 by police, but fewer than 70 people attended.

Scotland’s top police officer, Acting Chief Constable Iain Livingstone, revealed before the demo he expected members of proscribed group National Action to attend, along with members of other “right wing” groups “from Scotland and England” such as English Defence League, the North East Infidels, the Central Scotland Infidels and Scottish Football Risk Supporters.

One senior officer at the demo said afterwards: “The biggest problem we had was the football casuals.”

A flare and smoke bombs were thrown near George Square, next to a busy coffee shop with outdoor seating. A 26-year-old man was charged in connection with culpable and reckless conduct.

Superintendent John McBride said: “While the demonstration was taking place, a group of around 40 people who appeared intent on causing disorder were stopped by officers in nearby North Hanover Street. Smoke bombs and pyrotechnics were thrown at police officers at this time however thankfully there was no one injured.

“It is evident that those involved in the disorder in North Hanover Street had no concerns for the safety of everyone in that busy area and police inquiries are ongoing to identify those involved.”

SDL supporters, who were corralled into a corner of George Square by dozens of police officers, were outnumbered by anti-fascist demonstrators who drowned them out, despite the leaders of the far-right group bringing a PA system.

Supporters of the United Against Fascism (UAF) rally in the opposite corner of George Square numbered around 250 and were joined by political parties and trade unions, including the RMT. Steve Hedley, senior assistant general secretary of the RMT, was assaulted last week after taking part in an anti-fascist demo in London.

The opposing demonstrations in Glasgow yesterday were separated by a seven-foot wire fence erected around much of the square while preparations are made for Glasgow 2018 European Championships. Roadworks outside the City Chambers created another barrier between the groups.

UAF Scotland chairman John McFadden said: “With the work going on in George Square at the minute, and the roadworks, they could segregate us from the fascists, which was unfortunate.

“However, we were able to shout them down because they didn’t get anywhere near 100 people. It was closer to the 40 or 50 they usually get.

“They were trying to threaten and intimidate, and to capitalise on what happened in London last week when the far right came out in force for Tommy Robinson.”

The former English Defence League leader and right-wing activist was jailed for 13 months for contempt of court in May.

McFadden added: “I think the SDL will be really disappointed in their numbers today.”

SDL members arrived by train into Glasgow Queen Street station round 1pm, closely watched by police and ScotRail staff. One ScotRail source at the station, who asked not to be named, said: “There was only about 50 of them and they were a shambles.”

The SDL was later joined by around 20 stragglers who police allowed to break the cordon to join the protest, which organisers had said was against “grooming gangs”. Some were holding petitions and encouraged people to sign them.

SNP MSP Sandra White, who spoke at the UAF event as a member of the the executive committee, said: “To ask people to sign petitions calling every Muslim a rapist, a paedophile, a groomer is absolutely disgraceful, and we really need to stop it, nip it in the bud. The way things are going in this country just now these right-wing Nazis are proliferating all over and we cannot have them here at all.”

Speaking to the Sunday Herald before the demo, Scotland’s justice minister Humza Yousaf, who represents a Glasgow constituency, said: “Everyday racism, Islamophobia or any form of prejudice or bigotry is completely unacceptable, and it is wrong for anyone to be the subject or victim of it. We are resolved to do everything it takes to ensure that Scotland is a place where there is zero tolerance of racism in any form.”

Campaigner Dave Sharp who set up Safe. (Seek and Find Everyone abused in childhood) revealed he was asked to speak at the demo by the SDL, and he declined.

He accused the SDL of “using child abuse for a political game.” Sharp said: “There were right-wing activists and left-wing activists shouting and swearing at each other and almost all of them will have at some time over the last 12 months read about or heard stories from the child abuse public inquiry about the scale of child abuse inflicted on our own children that has been going on in this country for years by all the institutions, including ones run by churches.

“Where are these people when campaign groups like Safe. are on the streets telling people that hundreds of men and woman who were abused in childhood are dying every year without ever seeing justice?”

The SDL demo was restricted to no more than 100 people amid fears of the “potential for serious disorder”. It was also limited to 30 minutes and demonstrators ordered to disperse immediately after. Most of them were walked to Queen Street station by police and put on trains out of Glasgow by 2pm.

In a letter to an SDL member Acting Chief Constable Livingstone said: “…on almost all occasions around Scotland, where there has been SDL activity, there has been the potential for serious disorder, which on each occasion has required a significant police presence.

“In particular I refer to the 15th April 2017 in Wishaw, where serious disorder was averted by police, between SDL members and opposing groups. I also refer to an SDL event held in 2016 in Monkton, Ayrshire, where serious disorder and violence were only averted by a significant police presence. Disorder was also averted by police in Edinburgh on 20th March 2016 when the SDL held and anti-immigration event.”

Scotland’s top police officer imposed conditions on the demo under section 14 of the Public Order Act 1986. The legislation allows for restrictions if a demo “may result in serious public disorder, serious damage to property or serious disruption to the life of the community”.

The SDL posted the letter on Facebook yesterday with a statement which read: “This is shocking behaviour from the police, placing all these restrictions on the SDL demo but allowing the left wing counter demo unlimited numbers and unlimited time, no wonder people are loosing (sic) respect for the police they are covering up grooming gangs and taking away people's freedoms and clearly have a blatant left wing bias.”

The statement added: “They will never silence or stop the SDL, no surrender.”

The Sunday Herald asked Police Scotland whether they are aware of “grooming gangs” in Glasgow.

Detective Chief Inspector Gillian Grant said: “As part of an intelligence-led operation Police Scotland has arrested several men in connection with sexual assaults on teenage girls in Glasgow.

“Children have a right to protection against sexual abuse and tackling it, in all its forms, is a priority for Police Scotland. We remain committed to keeping our children safe. It is simple, sexual exploitation will not be tolerated and grooming a child for sex will result in prosecution.”

She added: “Anyone who has any information or concerns is asked to get in touch with officers at the Child Abuse Investigation Unit via 101.”