Nicola Sturgeon says Edinburgh anti-lockdown protests 'put lives at risk'

The First Minister said while she was a “passionate believer” in freedom of speech, assembly and the right to protest, “right now coming together in groups is putting people at risk, and frankly it's not an exaggeration to say it's putting people's lives at risk”.

Speaking at her daily Covid briefing on Monday, Ms Sturgeon said the Scotland Against Lockdown protest, which took place at lunchtime outside the Scottish Parliament, was “deeply irresponsible, whoever you are and whatever cause you may be protesting for or against”.

Police officers stand outside the Scottish Parliament as members of the public attend an anti lockdown protest held by The Scotland Against Lockdown group in Edinburgh. Picture: Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images

Only around a dozen protesters turned up, with police officers far outnumbering them, according to one onlooker.

The protest by the group, which campaigns against mask-wearing, social distancing and lockdown measures, was broken up by Police Scotland, who said that four people were arrested and charged in connection with alleged breaches of coronavirus regulations.Another was charged with police obstruction and will be the subject of a report to the Procurator Fiscal.Two more people were given fixed penalty notices for breaching coronavirus regulations.

Police also advised the media to observe social distancing, telling photographers not to form a scrum.

Ms Sturgeon said: “For people who are Covid deniers, it's not a fake, it's not made up, it's not a figment of anyone's imagination.

Protesters and police during a Scotland Against Lockdown demonstration outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

"You try telling that to the 1,600 people in Scottish hospitals today suffering from Covid, with more than 100 people in intensive care suffering from Covid, more than 4,000 families currently grieving the loss of a loved one because of Covid ... it’s not made up, it's very very real.

“If you think not wearing a mask, or gathering together in groups or encouraging people not to take the vaccine makes you smart, well I think the vast majority of the population would disagree with you and think you’re being really irresponsible.

“I think most of us understand the severity of what we face and want to do all they can to get the country safely through it and I’m very grateful for the responsibility of the overwhelming majority of the population. The law and the process of the justice system will take care of those who wilfully breach the restrictions that are in place right now to protect public health.”

Asked about the launch of Nigel Farage’s new Reform UK party, which in Scotland is being led by former Tory MSP Michelle Ballantyne, who has said she does not believe lockdown has worked, Ms Sturgeon said, while she had a “view”, she would not “express it here today”.

Police outside the Scottish Parliament after anti-Covid protestors were moved on.

At the protest, police gave a warning that those who had turned up needed to disperse within five minutes or face fines.

One protestor said they were just “exercising our human rights”. Another said: “I believe more people are harmed by the restrictions. Unemployment is going up and poverty is rising. People are facing starvation and that is not acceptable.

“Police have threatened to arrest us for protesting. That is now allowed. Under common law, I have the right to protest.”

The protester added that he was disappointed at the turnout and disappointed at the actions of the police. “It is unacceptable to threaten people for protesting,” the person said.

Police officers arrest a member of the public at an anti lockdown protest held by The Scotland Against Lockdown group outside the Scottish Parliament. Picture: Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images

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