Racial tension is growing in Glasgow after a group of Asian men allegedly abducted and murdered a 15-year-old white schoolboy. Policing has now been stepped up in the city.
Kriss Donald was snatched by a group of five men near his home in south Glasgow on Monday and found dead the next day in the east end of the city. Police claim to have found several positive lines of inquiry. They are still trying to establish a motive for the teenager's death.
Though the police is not saying if it was a racially motivated murder but officers believe the killing may be connected to a 19-year-old friend's relationship with a girl. The teenager was with Kriss when he was abducted and detectives are now trying to trace his girlfriend. Detective Superintendent Elliot McKenzie, the officer in charge of the investigation, said: "The 19-year-old had a relationship with a coloured woman, not necessarily Asian, but we cannot trace her."
The victim was abducted from Kenmure Street in the Pollokshields area of the city, not far from his home, shortly after 3 pm on Monday. He had been walking with a friend who managed to escape. Officers said Kriss was forced into a silver Mercedes or BMW car after a struggle with at least five men, who are described as of Asian appearance. His badly beaten body was found by a cyclist on Tuesday morning.
In a political twist to the horrendous killing Labour's Glasgow Govan MP Mohammed Sarwar warned right-wing extremists may attempt to cause trouble in the wake of the killing. He acknowledged that racial tensions had increased six months ago but added: "All the communities in Glasgow and Pollokshields are united to catch these culprits. We have to be very cautious that we don't allow the BNP and other right-wing organisations to exploit this tragedy to harm the race relations we have enjoyed over the years in Glasgow."
{{/usCountry}}In a political twist to the horrendous killing Labour's Glasgow Govan MP Mohammed Sarwar warned right-wing extremists may attempt to cause trouble in the wake of the killing. He acknowledged that racial tensions had increased six months ago but added: "All the communities in Glasgow and Pollokshields are united to catch these culprits. We have to be very cautious that we don't allow the BNP and other right-wing organisations to exploit this tragedy to harm the race relations we have enjoyed over the years in Glasgow."
{{/usCountry}}"There were problems in the past, but one thing is certain, there are only a few people, who I believe are thugs, causing disturbance and trouble in this area, and police are well aware of these people," Sarwar said.
Police said the area has one of the richest racial mixes in west of Scotland but insist that there was no indication there were racial tensions in the area. In September there were several reports of fights involving white and Asian youths.