Sectarian graffiti was scrawled across an Orange Hall in a Scots town just hours before a highly-anticipated Old Firm match.
Vandals targeted the building near at New Stevenston, near Motherwell overnight, as both teams prepared for their Premiership clash at Ibrox.
Hooligans smeared two huge Irish flags on the New Stevenston Orange Hall as well as an IRA slogan and a message which reads ‘Brits out’ and IRA.
Another menacing message written on the building reads ‘KAH’ which is believed to stand for ‘Kill all huns’.
An image of the graffiti attack was shared with the Daily Record, with Executive Officer of the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland, David Walters commenting: “We have today had a sectarian hate crime attack on our premises in New Stevenson.
“This has been reported as a Hate Crime to Police Scotland.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 10am on Thursday, 2 January, 2025, we received a report of vandalism at a premises in the Clydesdale Street area of New Stevenston. Enquiries are ongoing.”
It comes as Police warned Celtic and Rangers hooligans they are braced for trouble ahead of this afternoon’s Scottish Premiership clash at Ibrox.
Fans of the rivals clashed in Glasgow city centre last month, ahead of their sides’ League Cup Final meeting at the city’s Hampden Park.
In ugly scenes caught on camera, supporters sporting Santa hats brawled on busy streets in front of shocked members of the public on Christmas shopping trips.
The trouble was so bad that St Margaret of Scotland Hospice had to cancel a fundraising drive after the charity’s bus stationed on Argyle Street came under fire from warring thugs.
Yesterday, Police Scotland released images of 19 people wanted in connection with the Cup Final chaos.
And today the force warned that officers are primed should there be any repeat of last month’s trouble before or after today’s match, which takes place with Brendan Rodgers’ side sitting 14 points clear of Philippe Clement’s men in the Scottish Premiership.
Police Scotland Chief Superintendent Phil Davison said: “An appropriate policing plan is in place to maintain public safety and minimise any disruption to the community ahead of the fixture between Rangers v Celtic at Ibrox Stadium, in Glasgow on Thursday, 2 January, 2025.
“We continue to work closely with a range of partners ahead of the match, including both clubs. The use of weapons or violence will not be tolerated and officers will take action where necessary to ensure safety. We are are continuing our enquiries into disorder in Glasgow on Sunday, 15 December, 2024, prior to the Celtic v Rangers Cup Final at Hampden.”
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