Loyalists held up a Bloody Sunday memorial march in Glasgow today.
Around 600 members of Republican group West of Scotland Band Alliance were marching through Glasgow when they were met with around two hundred protesters from a far-right Loyalist group.
The stand-offs at Renfield Street, Union Street and Clyde Street saw the march being temporarily suspended as demonstrators blocked the pathways.
Members of both groups could be heard hurling abuse at each other as the city was brought to a standstill.
Hundreds of police officers and horse mounted officers lined the streets in a bid to prevent trouble from arising.
The Republican group, which describes itself as a ‘politically-independent organisation’, organised the march to “highlight what happened on Bloody Sunday in Derry” on January 30, 1972, when 14 unarmed civilians were killed by British soldiers during a protest march.
Protesters congregated in the city centre prior to the march after a Facebook event, set up by the National Defence League (NDL), called for “all Loyalists” to disrupt the parade.
The NDL describe themselves as: “Built by the people for the people to protect our great nation.”
The event comes just months after tensions between Loyalists and Republicans boiled over in the city.
Police Scotland have been contacted for comment.
Riot police were deployed to the centre of Govan after rival factions became locked in a major violent stand-off in August.
Police Scotland last night said the the event would be “comprehensively” policed.
Chief Superintendent Mark Hargreaves said: “We are aware of a procession planned to take place in Glasgow through the city centre on Saturday, January 25.
“A comprehensive policing and traffic management plan will be in place to ensure all those taking part can do so safely and any disruption to the local community will be minimised.”
