People who spread asylum seeker disinformation that led to a Glasgow tenement building being deliberately torched will be "pursued" by Police Scotland, John Swinney has vowed.
The empty building in Stoneyhurst Street - which had received a £3m investment to be renovated into affordable homes - went up in flames on Sunday afternoon with emergency efforts continuing into the next day.
Speculation spread online that the fire had been started intentionally amid concerns it would be used to house asylum seekers - a claim that has been rejected by operator NG Homes.
On Monday, Police Scotland confirmed the blaze was being treated as "wilful" and urged anyone who saw anything suspicious around the time of the incident to come forward.
During First Minister's Questions for backbenchers at Holyrood on Tuesday, Glasgow MSP Paul Sweeney branded it a "disgraceful attack".
Mr Sweeney was part of a group of local politicians who secured the multi-million-pound investment to bring the building back into use after 20 years for those on housing waiting lists.
He said the fire was "a result of months of malicious online lies on social media intended to whip up community tensions".
In response, Mr Swinney said Police Scotland would be pursuing the perpetrators, those who incited the crime, and those who celebrated the destruction of the planned social housing.
The first minister branded the events "absolutely deplorable".
He added: "The fact that that has arisen because of the spreading of misinformation about the fact that that accommodation was to be used by migrants is a further disgrace.
"And those who are responsible for the action will be pursued, those who were circulating information to incite this behaviour will be pursued, and those who have been responsible for celebrating such behaviour will also be pursued by Police Scotland.
"Because I want to make it clear to parliament today that when we are wrestling with housing challenges in our country, for people to go around wasting public money by setting flats on fire that are being renovated is an absolute disgrace and it undermines the efforts to improve the quality of life by providing good housing for members of the public in Scotland.
"So, everyone who's involved in this inciting of racial tension to stir this up, to lead to the destruction of good accommodation, are a disgrace and they'll be pursued by Police Scotland."
Read more from Sky News:
Paintings worth millions stolen from museum
Israeli settlers sanctioned as UK denounces 'ethnic cleansing' of Palestinians
Police Scotland was contacted for comment.
Detective Inspector Neil Martin previously said no one was injured in the incident.
He added: "The fire is being treated as wilful and we are asking anyone who saw anything suspicious around the time of the incident to get in touch.
"Please also check any private CCTV that you have and let us know if something has been captured that could assist with our investigation.
"Likewise, if you were driving in the area check dashcam and call us if you have footage that could assist."
(c) Sky News 2026: People who spread asylum seeker disinformation which led to fire
The UK's trade ban with Israeli settlements explained
UK teenagers ahead in science, maths and reading
Death of Nottingham attack victim 'potentially preventable', inquiry hears
Two more people arrested over 'infamous' illegal dump site in Kidlington
