Three police officers were injured after a mob threw bricks and eggs at them during a disturbance in the Priesthill area of Glasgow, Police Scotland has confirmed.
The disorder broke out after misinformation was spread on social media in the lead-up to the trouble, with officers facing a hostile crowd as the situation escalated on the ground.
Police Scotland said the three officers sustained injuries during the incident but did not give details on the severity of those injuries. All three were able to continue their duties following the attack.
Authorities have pointed directly at social media as a key factor in stirring up the trouble, saying false information circulating online helped fuel the disorder before it even kicked off. It is a pattern that has become increasingly familiar to Scottish police forces in recent months, with online rumour and misinformation dragging communities into flashpoints that might otherwise never have happened.
Priesthill, a residential area in the south side of Glasgow, was the scene of significant tension as officers worked to bring the situation under control. Locals in the area will have witnessed a heavy police presence as the force responded to the unfolding disorder.
Police Scotland has urged the public to be responsible when sharing information online, particularly when it comes to unverified claims about incidents in local communities. Officers have seen first-hand how quickly a rumour can spiral into real-world violence, and the injuries sustained in Priesthill are a stark reminder of the consequences.
Investigations into the disturbance are ongoing, and police are expected to review footage and gather evidence to identify those involved in attacking officers. Assaulting a police officer is a serious criminal offence in Scotland, and anyone found to have thrown bricks or other objects at officers could face significant charges.
The force has not yet confirmed how many people were involved in the disorder or whether any arrests have been made at this stage.