THE leader of an Irish Republican group has had his car torched in Glasgow's East End - ahead of a planned parade this week.

Police are investigating the deliberate fire on the Mercedes belonging to Tommy Stevenson, who was previously named as chairman of Irish Republican group Cairde Na Heireann (Friends of Ireland).

The incident happened on Monday night at around 10.30pm days after a riot in Govan. Violent scenes erupted in the area when loyalist protesters disrupted an Irish Unity march by the James Connolly Flute Band.

READ MORE: Rangers fan breaks his silence after he is wrongly accused of alleged abuse towards Scott Brown

This week Glasgow City Council gave two planned Irish Republican parades the go-ahead. The local authority decided, after discussions with police, not to overturn the decision to permit the parades.

The two marches that are planned for Saturday are the Cairde Na Heireann Calton Republicans from Millroad Street in Calton to the La Pasionaria monument in Clyde Street leaving at 1.30pm.

The second march is being organised by the Friends of Irish Republican Prisoners Welfare Association to take place from Blythswood Square at 3pm heading to Barrowland Park.

READ MORE: Easterhouse gran fighting for life after sudden heart attack in Benidorm

A source told The Daily Record: "It appears that this attack has been carried out to intimidate Mr Stevenson in hope to cancel the planned Irish parade this Saturday.

“I am aware that Mr Stevenson will not be threatened and the parade will go ahead as planned.”

Police and fire crews confirmed they were sent to an address Edinburgh Road, Riddrie to deal with Monday’s blaze and the force appealed for witnesses to come forward.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “At about 10.30pm on Monday, police responded to a report of a car set on fire. Inquiries are ongoing and no one has been arrested.”