Major incident is declared in Glasgow as armed police swoop on busy street 


Knifeman ‘stabs three victims dead in Glasgow hotel before being shot by armed police’ as major incident is declared

  • Police Scotland declare ‘major incident’ following reports of multiple stabbings
  • BBC report three were found dead in stairwell Park Inn hotel, West George Street
  • Country’s police federation say that one of their officers was stabbed in incident

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Glasgow is on lockdown today amid unconfirmed reports that three people have been stabbed to death in a hotel stairwell by an attacker who stabbed a policeman before being shot by armed officers.

The Scottish city centre is on lockdown after Police Scotland declared a ‘major incident’ at around 1pm before officers with automatic weapons stormed the Park Inn hotel in West George Street.

BBC reporter Catriona Renton is on the scene and tweeted: ‘Understood three dead in a stairwell of hotel. Had been stabbed. Police shot suspect’. It is not known if the knifeman is among the dead.

One man, Shaun, who was staying inside the Park Inn Hotel in Glasgow says he saw a man enter the reception area and stab two people. His mother was also staying inside and he called her to stay in the room. 

Police Scotland have not said what has happened other than that the ‘situation is contained – there is no danger to the public’ – the Scottish Police Federation has confirmed that one of their officers was stabbed.

Footage from the scene showed armed units running down the road and witnesses saw ‘bloodied’ people being taken from the Park Inn hotel on stretchers. The hotel has been used temporary homeless accommodation during the coronavirus crisis. 

These are the chaotic scenes outside the Park Inn Hotel in Glasgow this afternoon after it was swamped with police amid reports someone stormed in with a knife and stabbed two people in the reception. A police officer has also been knifed

An injured person is taken away on a trolley by paramedics after a major incident in Glasgow where it was reported that multiple people have been stabbed

An injured person is taken away on a trolley by paramedics after a major incident in Glasgow where it was reported that multiple people have been stabbed

Armed officers were filmed running down West George Street with the BBC claiming that the knifeman was shot

Armed officers were filmed running down West George Street with the BBC claiming that the knifeman was shot

Witness Craig Milroy, who saw the aftermath of the incident from an office building nearby, said he had seen four people taken away in ambulances.

He told the PA news agency: ‘I saw a man lying on the ground, of African descent, with no shoes on. He was on the ground with someone holding his side – I don’t know if it was a bullet wound, a stab wound, or what it was.’

Mr Milroy said the man was one of the four taken away by medics and believed him to be a victim of an attack.

He added: ‘After that we saw commotion, ambulances further up and we saw armed police all running into the hotel next to the Society Room.

‘We were still standing outside, after that the police all came down, the riot police and triage team told us to go back in and lock the door.’

Horrified witnesses claim ‘multiple’ people may have been stabbed in a broad daylight knife attack.

One told Mailonline: ‘It’s shocking. Things have been so quiet with lockdown. I heard the sirens and then there were police, some with automatic weapons and bullet proof vests running around.

‘Somebody told me there was blood all over the road. I’m so upset and just want to get home.’  

Mark White, from Sky News, said: ‘Several people have been injured in a serious incident in Glasgow city centre. Armed police have sealed off West George Street. Eyewitnesses have told they saw people, bloodied, being taken on stretchers from the Park Inn hotel.’ 

LBC reporter Fraser Knight was at the scene and posted: ‘Reports of multiple stabbings in Glasgow City Centre and a potential major incident with upwards of 20 police vehicles, riot shields, armed officers and paramedics on West George Street

‘Around 20 police vehicles, armed officers, sniffer dogs and riot shields are on the scene at West George Street in Glasgow. Lots of shouting and huge number of paramedics in hazmat suits

‘Huge police and ambulance response to an incident on West George Street in Glasgow – reports of a police officer being stabbed.’