Scottish hate crimes increase following Paris terrorist atrocities

The deputy chief constable of Police Scotland has admitted he is "disappointed" that 64 suspected "racially or religiously motivated" hate crimes have been reported in the country since the Paris terror atrocities. At least three of these attacks are thought to have been in direct reaction to the events the police said.

These attacks included an assault on a takeaway shop owner, a suspected arson attack at a community centre used as a Mosque in the town of Bishopbriggs in East Dunbartonshire, and online abuse levelled against Humza Yousaf, a minister in Scotland's regional government. Five people have been arrested in response to these incidents.

In a statement, DCC Iain Livingstone, said: "I am disappointed to say that since the tragic incidents in France last Friday, there have been 64 hate crimes reported to Police Scotland which were racially or religiously motivated. This compares to a total of 569 incidents of religiously aggravated offending in Scotland.

"While we cannot say how many of these were motivated by last week's events, these are 64 crimes too many and are not in keeping with our traditions of a multicultural Scotland."

Although not singling out how many of these crimes were Islamophobic, Livingstone said that 40 of the crimes had already been solved and added that he was confident that more arrests would follow. He added that Police Scotland had increased its efforts specifically in dealing with hate crimes.

"People of all the faiths, and of none, should live in a Scotland that is free from hate crime and discrimination," he said. The latest annual figures for Islamophobic crime in Scotland record 71 charges over a 12-month period.

Last weekend far-right demonstrators of the Scottish Defence League (SDL) were blocked from entering Monkton South Ayrshire, after attempting to rally in the village. The SDL claimed they had been approached by local residents who were objecting to refugees being given emergency accommodation at the local Adamton Country House Hotel.

Marie Burns SNP councillor for Irvine East and cabinet member for economic Development and regeneration showed her support for those supporting the refugees last weekend and said on Twitter: "Great turnout at Monkton today to show SDL that #refugeeswelcome in Scotland."

Pro-refugee supporters outnumbered the far right by a significant amount with reports of between five to seven SDL members turning up to protest, in comparison with more than 100 people who went to support the refugees.