Police probe cause of fire at Glasgow affordable homes tenement

In a post on social media, Sweeney said it was “outrageous” that a refurbished building risked being destroyed by fire in a “socially-deprived community”.

He said: “We secured nearly £3m in government investment to bring these tenements back and renovate them, so they can be used for the community in a city with a housing emergency.

“It was never going to illegal immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers – it was never intended for that purpose at all.”

“So, anyone claiming that was spreading lies, misinformation, to generate clicks on social media, to whip up the community, wind people up and this is the upshot of it.”

Councillor Ruairi Kelly, Glasgow City Council’s convener for housing and development, wrote: “If this was a deliberate arson attack, then all that these thugs and criminals have achieved is to extend the wait that local people will now have for the house moves they desperately need.”