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Authorities are currently investigating a fire that broke out at a tenement building owned by a housing association in Glasgow. The building, located on Stonyhurst Street in the Possilpark area, has been derelict for two decades but was set to undergo renovation funded by a £3 million investment aimed at converting it into affordable housing. The fire, believed to have been deliberately started, occurred on Sunday afternoon in a flat on the fourth floor of the structure, which was covered in scaffolding at the time.
Paul Sweeney, the Glasgow MSP, indicated that the blaze might be connected to online disinformation circulating about the property’s intended use. False claims spreading on social media suggested the flats were going to house asylum seekers, which Sweeney strongly denied. According to him, the building was being refurbished to serve local community members in urgent need of housing, not migrants or refugees. “Anyone claiming that was spreading lies, misinformation, to generate clicks on social media, to whip up the community,” he said, warning that such misinformation had dire consequences.
The unrest around the building is not new. Earlier in the year, protests against the planned renovation took place, with local Facebook groups fueling speculation about the accommodation being designated for asylum seekers. Sweeney called for clear and effective communication to counteract the far-right groups he believes are exploiting these falsehoods to further a political agenda. He also shared that witnesses had seen someone climbing the scaffolding before the fire was ignited.
Glasgow City Council, alongside NG Homes, emphasized their commitment to restoring empty properties for the benefit of local families. Ruairi Kelly, the council’s housing and development convener, expressed concern over the spread of misleading information, noting that it foments fear and division within the community. Kelly also underscored the dangers of such actions, warning that the fire could have resulted in serious injuries or worse. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service responded with six fire engines, containing the fire before it caused further devastation. NG Homes reiterated that housing allocations will follow legal eligibility criteria and stressed the importance of accurate information regarding the project’s purpose
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