Nicola Sturgeon warns 'anti-lockdown' protests risk lives and face police action

Nicola Sturgeon has warned that Scots planning to take part in open air "anti-lockdown" protests around the country are putting lives at risk and face police action.

Nicola Sturgeon warned anti-lockdown protests will risk lives

The First Minister issued an appeal to Scots not to get involved in the planned events, stating: "It's not worth it, so please don't do it."

She spoke out at today's daily Coronavirus briefing after leaflets were posted across social media advertising a “Unified Peaceful Mass Gathering” at locations across the country including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Aberdeen and Dundee this weekend.

Ms Sturgeon accepted it is not "easy or pleasant" to live under the current “stay at home” restrictions to suppress the virus.

But she added: "Anybody that goes to a picnic in the park right now will be breaking the law.

"Gatherings outside - households gatherings of more than two people – are not allowed.

"It's not for me to direct the police how they would respond to that, but I have have every confidence that the police will apply and enforce the law.

"But the other, perhaps even more important reason not to do it is you will be putting peoples' lives at risk.

"So if anybody out there watching this is even remotely tempted to go to some illegal gathering in a park this weekend because you're fed up with lockdown, what I say to you is I understand you're fed up with lockdown, we're all fed up with it. But we're having to do it for the right reasons and if you do that then it is not an exaggeration to say you could be putting peoples' lives at risk.

"Please don't do it. We're all in this for the same reason to stop people dying unnecessarily, so don't be that person that knowingly puts somebody's life on the line.

The flyers call on people to “bring a picnic” to the events and “say no to the coronavirus bill, no to mandatory vaccines, no to the new normal, and no to the unlawful lockdown”.

Police Scotland have “strongly urged” people to avoid planned events and made it clear that they are prohibited under current Scottish Government guidance.