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Friday 26 June 2020 17:16
Follow the latest updates as a police officer remains in a critical condition following a major incident
A police officer is in a critical condition in hospital after six people were stabbed during an incident in Glasgow city centre.
Officers swooped on West George Street, where a male suspect was shot dead by armed police.
Police Scotland said the incident has been “contained” and that there is no danger to the “wider public”.
Eyewitnesses described seeing people covered in blood being taken away by ambulances following the incident, which is believed to have taken place at the Park Inn hotel.
A witness has described the police response to the incident as “incredible”.
Matthew Nesbitt told Sky: “To all the police involved: very, very brave and professional to get involved so quickly.
Campaign group Positive Action In Housing has said the Park Inn hotel, where the incident is understood to have happened, was housing asylum seekers for the Mears Group, which it says moved them there during the coronavirus lockdown.
The Scottish ambulance service has asked people to only call 999 in an emergency because of the ongoing major incident.
It said in a tweet: “Due to the major incident in Glasgow today which the Scottish Ambulance Service is currently attending alongside @policescotland we would please ask people to only call 999 in an emergency.
“We would also ask people to please stay away from the area.”
Nicola Sturgeon has said the injury of a Police Scotland officer is a “reminder of the great bravery our officers show every day”.
“My sincere thanks go to our emergency services. The injury of a
@policescotland officer is a reminder of the great bravery our police officers show every day as they work to keep us safe.
“Please follow @policescotland for official updates. Some of the information that has been circulating is unconfirmed/inaccurate – and the situation is serious enough without that.
“And let’s all keep the injured and their families uppermost in our thoughts.”
Home secretary Priti Patel and Labour leader Keir Starmer have offered their thoughts for those involved in the incident in Glasgow’s city centre.
Ms Patel described the incident as “deeply alarming” as the urged people to stay away from the area, while Mr Starmer said it was “extremely concerning”.
The scene remains sealed off by police, who are asking people to avoid the area
Police are urging people to avoid the area as they continue to deal with the incident in West George Street.
Police have confirmed the male suspect shot by armed officers has died.
Six people are receiving hospital treatment for their injuries.
This includes a male police officers who is said to be in a critical but stable condition.
Scottish Police Federation chairman David Hamilton has confirmed the injured police officer is male.
He said in a statement: “Whilst there is understandable and considerable public interest in the major incident in Glasgow earlier today, our focus at this time is in assisting the family of our colleague who has been seriously injured.
“This is obviously an anxious time for them and we ask that they be left alone as their attentions are very obviously directed towards the care of their loved one.
“Our thoughts, prayers and best wishes are with our colleague, his family and friends, and all colleagues affected by this incident at this time.”
A witness named John said he saw two people stabbed inside the Park Inn hotel, where the incident is believed to have taken place.
He said he came down from the third floor of the hotel to see the reception covered in blood.
He told PA news agency: “One receptionist had been stabbed behind the receptionist desk.
“And then when I went down to the entrance I shouted at him and told him to stay calm and I will call for help.
“When I went to the entrance I saw another receptionist was fighting for his life and had been stabbed.
“There were two police officers their assisting him.”
Armed police were seen entering the Park Inn hotel, where the incident is believed to have taken place.
Mohammad N Asif, chair of Afghan Human Rights Foundation, said the building was being used to house asylum seekers during the coronavirus pandemic.
He wrote on Twitter: “The hotel also houses asylum seekers.
“I am told by an asylum seeker resident in the hotel that they are NOT allowed to speak to anyone, he said many people have stabbed by knives.”
Eyewitness describes seeing people covered in blood being treated
Boris Johnson has said he is “deeply saddened by the terrible incident”.
“Thank you to our brave emergency services who are responding.”
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.”
Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon has described the incident as “truly dreadful”.
She added in a post on Twitter: “My thoughts are with everyone involved. I am being updated as the situation becomes clearer.
An eyewitness told Sky News she had seen people covered in blood being treated by emergency services and armed police at the scene shortly after 12pm.
Police Scotland has confirmed a male suspect has been shot by an armed officer.
The force also confirmed reports that a police officer was injured while dealing with the incident. The officer is being treated in hospital.
The Scottish Police Federation, which which represents rank and file police officers, says a police officer has been stabbed in the incident.
Police are currently dealing with a major incident in Glasgow city centre where several people, including a police officer, are believed to have been stabbed.
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