Protesters ordered to quit Glasgow camp

Anti-capitalist protesters have been ordered to leave their Glasgow city-centre camp by council officials a day after a woman was raped at the site.

The city council has issued a “letter of expulsion” to the activists, who moved into George Square on 15 October and have pitched about 20 tents.

The local authority warned them their camp was illegal and ordered the group to leave “with immediate effect”.

On Wednesday, a 28-year-old woman was raped in a tent in the camp in the early hours.

The council said the timing of the letter being issued was not connected to the rape.

In a statement, the local authority said: “We have explained to the protesters on many occasions that their presence in the square is illegal and that they should leave.

“This letter merely formalises that,” said the statement.

The protest is part of an “anti-greed movement” taking place around the world in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street, which began last month in New York’s financial district.

Strathclyde Police are continuing their investigations into the rape of the woman, which was committed at about 12:45am.

Police are looking for two men they believe are known to the victim.

They are described as 20 to 30, both 6ft and of slim build. One had short, spiky blond hair, and one had short dark hair.

In a statement on its website, Occupy Glasgow said it “unequivocally condemns” the rape and is planning a vigil.

The statement went on: “We believe it beyond question that our society should neither tolerate nor allow violence against women, in any place, at any time.

“The sad fact stands that the human right to safety and security is a goal not currently attained in our society, which frequently falls far too short of this aim.

“We take campers’ security extremely seriously and have had a Safer Spaces Policy for the site since day one, and are continually addressing how best to carry it out.”

The statement added: “To further highlight these issues, we are calling for a solidarity vigil this Friday, at George Square, in place of the regularly scheduled general assembly.

“We urge everyone to attend this vigil to show that Glasgow does not tolerate violence against women or any form of hate crime.”

In the wake of the rape, numerous individuals who had previously supported Occupy Glasgow’s aims criticised organisers for jeopardising the safety of those joining in the protests.

Such was the opposition in parts that the group was forced temporarily to suspend people from posting on its Facebook page .

The letter from Glasgow City Council follows days of negotiations involving the local authority and representatives of the demonstrators.

It is understood that the council has offered to allow the Occupy Glasgow camp to move to another area in the city, so that a Remembrance Sunday service and the annual switching-on of Glasgow’s Christmas lights can go ahead in George Square.

A number of alternative locations were raised in the discussions, including Kelvingrove Park and Glasgow Green.