ANTI-capitalism protesters have been ordered to leave their camp in the heart of Glasgow a day after a woman was raped at the site.
The demonstrators have been issued with an “order of expulsion” by Glasgow City Council, which told them to leave their encampment at George Square.
Protesters from the Occupy Glasgow movement have been living in around 20 tents in the square since October 15, when several similar demonstrations were launched around the world.
The council had asked them to leave on a number of occasions and had offered to provide alternative sites for the protest. However, the expulsion order represents a toughening of its stance, as it provides the legal framework to clear the site.
A council spokeswoman 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.”
She added that the timing of the letter was not connected to the rape, which took place late on Tuesday evening.
The camp has become a magnet for the homeless and people living on the streets after activists decided to provide them with refuge.
Grant Thistle, the protesters’ spokesman, said the victim was not one of the original demonstrators, but had approached them with her boyfriend in a “weakened state” a week ago and had been taken in.
She decided to stay after her boyfriend left, and was assaulted by two men after they had spent an evening drinking in one of the tents, despite the camp’s no-alcohol policy.
It is understood both suspects, who were also not part of the protest, were known to the woman, although not by name.
Police have launched an investigation and are appealing for information. The suspects are described as being 20 to 30 years old, both 6ft and of slim build. One had short, spiky blond hair and one had short dark hair.
Detective Inspector Dougie McKinlay, who is leading the investigation, said: “We are looking for witnesses to an incident that took place some time between 9pm and midnight on Tuesday, in which a serious sexual assault occurred on a 28-year-old female within the Occupy Glasgow protest camp.
“We know there were other people in the area at the time and we are appealing for them to come forward.”
The demonstration is one of a number that have been organised in the UK, with the most visible taking place near St Paul’s Cathedral in London.
Members of the Glasgow camp had become increasingly worried about security in the run up to the attack on the woman.
As a result, they had spoken to Glasgow City Council about their concerns for the vulnerable people who had started to approach them.
However, some had also voiced concern about the camp’s open-door policy after some activists were threatened by a man who had been staying there. It has also been alleged some money was stolen from the group’s funds.
In a statement on its website, Occupy Glasgow said it “unequivocally condemns” the rape and is planning a vigil.
It said: “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.
“To highlight further these issues, we are calling for a solidarity vigil today 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.”
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