Police treat Humza Yousaf confrontation as 'hate incident'

Police Scotland have said they are treating the behaviour of a Liberal Party candidate and supporters who confronted the Scottish justice secretary at an election count as a hate incident.

Humza Yousaf said Liberal Party candidate Derek Jackson and supporters – who arrived at the Glasgow count on Friday wearing black suits, yellow stars and armbands – made a “beeline” for him and asked him about “child rape victims in Pakistan” as well as the Scottish Government’s Hate Crime Bill.

Jackson and his five backers were escorted from the building by police.

Police Superintendent Gerry Corrigan said: “We did not receive a complaint of criminality, however officers carried out a thorough investigation into the behaviour of six people who were escorted from the Emirates Arena, Glasgow, on Friday 7 May.

“No crime was established but Police Scotland will record this as a hate incident.

“This is any incident which is perceived by someone to be motivated by malice or ill-will towards a particular group, but which does not amount to a criminal offence.”

Speaking after the incident on Friday, Yousaf said: “What I’m always struck by is voices of good always outweigh the voices of hatred.

“If anyone witnessed that exchange there – when they were directing questions at me about Pakistan, obviously because of my colour of skin, I’m not from Pakistan, my home is in Scotland.

“I was delighted to be joined by colleagues right across the political parties, from Labour and other parties, standing in unity with me.

“So I’m pleased their voices were drowned out.

“You had six muppets here and then you very quickly had 25 people on the other side telling them where to go. That to me is the best of Scotland really.”