The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Missiles thrown at police during ‘paedo’ protest
COWDENBEATH: ‘Unacceptable’ attack as 60 people gathered outside property
Police officers attending a protest in a Fife town came under attack and had missiles thrown at them.
Violence broke out when around 60 people gathered outside a property in Blamey Crescent, Cowdenbeath, after rumours swept the community of a “paedophile” living in the neighbourhood.
Footage circulating on social media showed the crowd chanting “paedo” and “get the beast out”. The residue of eggs which had been thrown at the windows of a property could also be seen.
The incident resulted in almost a dozen police officers descending on the scene on Wednesday evening.
Several videos showed a man being escorted from the property and taken to the safety of a waiting police van.
A similar smaller protest – understood to have involved the same man – broke out in Kirkcaldy less than 24 hours later.
Police were called to a property in the town’sdunearndriveyesterday,although on this occasion it ended peacefully.
A man – believed to be the same person from the Cowdenbeath incident – was led away by officers and placed in a waiting police car.
A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: “Around 11.50am on Thursday July 16, officers were called to people gathering outside an address in
Dunearn Drive, Kirkcaldy. Officers attended and no arrests were made. A man was removed from the property.”
The man’s whereabouts are not currently known.
The area’s police chief condemned members of the crowd for throwing missiles at the attending officers during the stand off the night before.
No officers were injured but the episode was branded “unacceptable”.
Local area commander Chief Inspector Paul Dick warned police will be reviewing footage of the incident and prosecutions could follow.
He said: “Police were called around 6.40pm on Wednesday July 15 to Blamey Crescent, Cowdenbeath, to reports of a large crowd gathering outside a house.
“Unfortunately during the incident some of those gathered became extremely hostile towards the officers, who were struck when objects were thrown by members of the crowd.
“Police officers have a duty to ensure the safety of everyone involved in last night’s incident and whilst no officers were injured, this kind of behaviour is unacceptable.
“Although the crowd dispersed we will be making inquiries to establish if any of the crowd have committed any offences and will deal with individuals identified as being responsible appropriately. This will include reviewing video footage.”