Royal Wedding party ends with 21 arrests and a police officer hospitalised after riot in Glasgow park
- Celebrations turned violent after the music was turned off
- Officers were pelted with bottles and police car windows broken
- Arrests were made for drunkenness
An unofficial party organised on Facebook to celebrate the Royal Wedding ended in a full-scale riot with 21 people arrested.
A police officer was taken to hospital with a head injury following the gathering which took place in an affluent area of Glasgow close to the university.
Thousands turned out for the event in Kelvingrove Park, which got out of control shortly after the music was switched off.
Riot: Thousands attended the party in Kelvingrove Park, Glasgow after it was organised on Facebook
There were also claims that officers were pelted with bottles and that windows had been broken on police cars.
Strathclyde Police made 21 arrests for a variety of offences, mostly related to disorderly behaviour and drunkenness.
In conflicting advice to the hundreds of street parties going on up and down the country, Glasgow City Council had warned against the event and urged people to find a 'safer alternative'.
Disgrace: The Royal Wedding party descended into fights after the music was turned off
A spokesman for the police said: 'Police were aware of this unplanned, unauthorised event and put in place contingencies to ensure an appropriate and proportionate policing response.
'A statement was issued last night by Glasgow City Council urging people to stay away and reminding them of the by-law which forbids the consumption of alcohol in public places.
'Despite this, people attended in large numbers and police were deployed to ensure public safety and to try and facilitate a peaceful event.
Violent outbursts: Police battled a drunken crowd who reportedly pelted them with bottles
'Initially it was a good-natured event, however as the day progressed, a significant number of persons became more intoxicated resulting in disorder.'
Chief Superintendent Bernard Higgins said: 'It's really disappointing that on the day of the Royal Wedding we witnessed the scenes we did.
Scuffles: An injured party-goer in the Glasgow park
'At one point my officers came under attack and one was taken to hospital suffering from a head injury. He has been discharged and will make a full recovery.
'We made a number of arrests at the time and we will now study CCTV footage and make further arrests if appropriate. The level of drunkenness was completely unacceptable and frankly irresponsible.'
The Kelvingrove Street Party was planned to run from 11am to 9pm and organisers said the council and police were aware of the event.
A number of posts were put on Facebook after the party.
Tanja Goral wrote: 'I seen six-year-old kids there today, this was suppose to be a fun event and I feel sorry for the parents who had their children witness such idiotic acts. Get something good and it's ruined. I can bet that we will never be allowed to do this again.'
Craig Easdale wrote: 'This was a great event, and the behaviour of everyone was good on the whole, up until the police arrived. I feel if the event was shut down more calmly a lot of drama could have been avoided and the police definitely didn't handle it as well as they could have.'
Before the event, the event organisers JJ Gardner & Robbie Seath urged party-goers to 'take it easy, help us keep the rubbish under control and remember that there will be other folk in the park who aren't quite as Royalist/Party mad as ourselves'.
Although there was no indication that the riots at Kelvingrove Park were related, sectarianism has flared again in Glasgow in recent weeks after parcel bombs were sent to Celtic manager Neil Lennon and two high-profile supporters of the club.
There were numerous, peaceful celebrations taking place across Scotland yesterday in honour of the Royal Wedding.
Chilled out: The party in the Glasgow park started out peacefully enough as crowds of young people gathered to celebrate the Royal Wedding
Scenes from St Andrews, where William first met Kate at university, were beamed to a television audience of millions.
More than 2,000 people had a wedding breakfast at St Salvator's Quadrangle in the university. St Andrews said it had received 6,000 ticket applications for the free event.
Hundreds gathered on the lawn in front of Balmoral Castle to watch the wedding on six large screens.
The newlyweds are known to have enjoyed several romantic breaks at the royal residence on the 50,000-acre estate.
In Edinburgh, the Royal Standard of Scotland was flown at the headquarters of the Scottish Government.
Warnings: Glasgow council had urged people to find a 'safer alternative' to large public parties
Speaking before the ceremony, First Minister Alex Salmond, who attended the wedding with his wife Moira, said: 'This is a great day of celebration, and it is wonderful that the Queen has bestowed the Scottish title of Earl and Countess of Strathearn on the royal couple.
'The Royal Standard of Scotland is flying from St Andrew's House in Edinburgh in honour of this special day.
'I wish the royal couple my warmest wishes for a long and very happy married life together.'
More than 100 people watched the wedding on a big screen at Braehead Shopping Centre in Glasgow.
However not everyone was celebrating. Republicans gathered outside the Queen's official residence in Scotland to protest against the monarchy. Around 100 people chanted slogans at the gates of Holyrood Palace.
Protesters walked to the foot of the Royal Mile, briefly holding up traffic between the palace and Scottish Parliament.