Schoolboy Injured In Old Firm Bottle Attack

A 10-year-old boy was left with three teeth missing after he was hit by a bottle thrown into the minibus on which he was travelling to yesterday's Old Firm match.

The child also suffered a hairline fracture to his face and had to spend the night in hospital following the "appalling assault'', police said.

The bottle was thrown by one of a group of men who surrounded the minibus and hurled abuse at the occupants as the vehicle sat in traffic at Cathcart Road near to Nutberry Court in the Mount Florida area of Glasgow at around 12.15pm yesterday.

The young boy, who was going to an Old Firm game for the first time with his father, was taken by ambulance to Yorkhill Hospital and kept in overnight, missing the Celtic v Rangers clash which Celtic won 2-0.

The man who threw the bottle is described as white, 5ft 11in and of heavy build.

He was wearing green clothing and possibly a white beanie hat.

He and the men he was with continued along Cathcart Road and into Cathkin Park towards Hampden Park.

Police have appealed for information about the incident. Detective Constable Kenneth MacEwan said: "This was an appalling assault on the boy who was with his dad and fellow supporters going to his first Celtic v Rangers game. He never got to the match but instead was detained overnight in hospital and has a facial injury and teeth missing.

"We do believe that this was football related. Yes, it would appear that the bottle was deliberately thrown at the minibus, however, we don't think the boy was specifically targeted as such.

"Obviously Cathcart Road was very busy at this time so plenty people would have been about when this happened. I would appeal to them, or indeed any of the group which we believe the man was with, to contact police.

"Anyone with information can contact officers at Cathcart CID via the non emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, where information can be given in confidence.''