Eco-activists have spray-painted obscene graffiti on displays at the GlasGLOW event just hours after dozens of families enjoyed the show. Key pieces of the light show in the Glasgow Botanic Gardens were targeted in the early hours of Saturday morning with the culprits caught on CCTV.
Show bosses are appealing for help from members of the public to identify the six individuals responsible - but vowed tonight’s showing will still go ahead. The attack came over claims event company itison is abusing wildlife and destroying the gardens by hosting the event there.
Workers were pictured cleaning graffiti, which read ‘Greta was here’ next to a Saltire flag, off a dinosaur statue. A wooden box was also vandalised with the words 'f*** animal cruelty', while 'No Tory c***s' was daubed across a barrier.
Oli Norman, CEO of itison, said a group of six individuals were responsible for the damage.
In a video posted on Facebook, he said their "images would be released shortly" as they had been captured on security cameras.
Standing in front of the obscene messages as staff worked to clean them off, he pledged Saturday's event would continue as planned for anyone with tickets.
Oli added: “Alongside the entire team I’m saddened and disgusted by the mindless vandalism that took place at GlasGLOW early this morning. This behaviour has nothing to do with the climate emergency or protecting wildlife, and everything to do with a small minority of individuals trying to tell us what we can and can’t do in our public spaces.
“We have been accused of ‘greenwashing’ for using biofuels and donating tens of thousands to local charities and labelled ‘corporate greedy’ for employing over 270 local people to deliver GlasgGLOW. We are a local company putting on an event bringing families and friends together to spread light and joy in the dark months.
“These trolls should be ashamed of themselves – not only are they disrupting a much-loved event, but they have undermined the cause of environmental groups that genuinely want to drive change. If anyone has any information relating to these individuals, they should contact the police directly or contact the GlasGLOW team at glasglow2022@itison.com.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson added: "On Saturday, 29 October, police received a report of a vandalism that took place earlier that morning at an event in Botanic Gardens, Glasgow.
"Police enquiries are ongoing into this report and anyone with information that may assist the enquiry should contact 101 with reference 1472 of 29 October."
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