Nicola Sturgeon has condemned the abuse aimed at a BBC journalist before a Tory hustings in Perth as "disgraceful".
Protesters yelled at James Cook, the BBC's Scotland editor, as they demonstrated outside the Conservative event at the town's concert hall - with calls of “traitor”, “scumbag rat” and “liar” heard.
The First Minister hit out at the independence backers who abused him. "Hurling abuse at journalists is never acceptable,” the SNP politician tweeted.
"Their job is vital to our democracy and it is important to report and scrutinise, not support any viewpoint.
"James Cook is a journalist of the highest quality and a total pro – the behaviour he was subjected to last night was disgraceful.”
During the video, which was filmed by protesters, Cook was asked how long he had been in Scotland.
“I’ve been in Scotland my whole life,” he told the woman, who was asking about the Claim of Right, a document which dates back to 1689.
“I’m not going to be starting asking you how long you’ve been in Scotland, I think it’s a bit of a rude question.”
After yells continued from the crowd, Cook said: “It’s a waste of time. I’m very much trying to have a civilised conversation with you, in our nation, which we share, but I can’t have a civilised conversation because this gentleman calls me ‘traitor’ and ‘scum’ and screams me down.”
At the protest, there were also reports of abuse being hurled at Tory members as they walked in, as well as eggs being thrown.
Sturgeon tweeted: "Hurling abuse at journalists is never acceptable. Their job is vital to our democracy & it is to report & scrutinise, not support any viewpoint. @BBCJamesCook is a journalist of the highest quality and a total pro - the behaviour he was subjected to last night was disgraceful."
While, the SNP's Westminster leader Ian Blackford said: "This is shocking and I am ashamed to see @BBCJamesCook treated this way.
"It is not all right. James is a first class, decent and rightly well regarded journalist. He acted with great dignity and patience here. This is not the Scotland I want."
Sturgeon and Blackford focused on the abuse being directed towards Cook while SNP MP for Glasgow East David Linden reacted to Bowie's tweet branding a section of the protestors "morons".
Bowie tweeted: "Eggs being thrown, spitting at pensioners. The good old "tory scum" banner out...Good to see @NicolaSturgeon's civic and joyous nationalism in action in Perth tonight."
Linden said: "These morons don’t speak for me or my party. We condemn their behaviour utterly and without equivocation.
"If anyone of them is found to be an @theSNP member, then they should be chucked out immediately. It’s as simple as that."
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross tweeted: "Nobody should be subjected to the abuse that happened outside @ScotTories hustings last night.
"It doesn't matter if you're a BBC reporter or a party member - you shouldn't have to put up with nasty insults and threats. The disgusting conduct of nationalist supporters must stop."
No arrests made
Chief Superintendent Phil Davison said there an "appropriate policing plan was in place to maintain public safety and minimise disruption".
"Police Scotland is a rights-based organisation that puts our values of integrity, fairness, respect and a commitment to upholding human rights at the heart of everything we do," Davidson said.
"We have a duty under the European Convention on Human Rights to protect the rights of people who wish to peacefully protest or counter protest balanced against the rights of the wider community."
No arrests were made, the force said.
