Sadly, six people have died as a result of the #GeorgeSquare major road incident. A further update will be issued in due course.
— Police Scotland (@PoliceScotland) December 22, 2014
Six people have been confirmed dead after a bin lorry careered through streets packed with Christmas shoppers in Glasgow, Police Scotland said.
Police Scotland Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Mawson, local policing commander for the west, said: ``This is a tragic incident which has taken place at a very busy time in the centre of our city. Please be assured my officers and other members of the emergency services will do everything they can to respond to this collision.
“We have set up a helpline for anyone who believes a friend or relative may have been involved in this incident. The number is 01786 289070. However, due to the volume of calls that we are receiving, it would be helpful if anyone who was in Glasgow city centre today can call home to let their loved ones and friends know that they are safe.
“The safety of the people of Glasgow is our priority and the emergency services will continue to work together to establish the exact circumstances.”
#GeorgeSquare update: ACC Mawson urges those in Glasgow to call home to let friends & family know that they are safe. pic.twitter.com/gY3qCFf0CD
— Police Scotland (@PoliceScotland) December 22, 2014
Devastating news of accident in Glasgow city-centre this afternoon. Our thoughts & prayers with those affected by this terrible tragedy.
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) December 22, 2014
Thoughts & prayers with all those caught up with tragic accident in Glasgow.
— Alex Salmond (@AlexSalmond) December 22, 2014
All casualties from #GeorgeSquare incident taken to S.General Hosp, Royal Infirmary & W.Infirmary. cc @Scotambservice pic.twitter.com/pzz03AvQr1
— Police Scotland (@PoliceScotland) December 22, 2014
Shop owner at 49 Cochrane Street offering free tea/coffee if anyone at George Square is in need of a place to sit while waiting for news.
— Peter A Smith (@PeterAdamSmith) December 22, 2014
Mr Carle stressed: “For now it does not look to be a criminal or deliberate act that has taken place here this afternoon, but we need to have time to investigate it.''
He said that it appeared “at least” seven people had been seriously injured but warned that “that number may rise”
The driver of the bin lorry has also been taken to hospital and is receiving treatment, the officer said.
But in the wake of speculation that the driver had collapsed at the wheel of the lorry, Mr Carle said he could not comment on what he was being treated for.
He told how police “will be here now for many hours and throughout the night as we investigate the scene and eventually as we recover the dead”.
Mr Carle said: “It’s difficult for all the emergency services but particularly for those people who have been in Glasgow today shopping and getting ready for Christmas. There will be a lot of distressed people and certainly the city will need to come round those people that have been traumatised by the incident.
“But our officers, the ambulance officers, the fire officers, the city council officers they are all working together as quickly as possible to bring the scene to a conclusion.”
He stated: “It is a road traffic collision with multiple fatalities, it’s a terrible incident, but we don’t believe there is anything at this juncture that is sinister about the accident.
“We have the road closed off from Ingram Street and Queen Street to George Square. We are currently starting a joint investigation with the criminal investigation department as to what has happened here this afternoon.”
Mr Carle said that at “about 2.30pm a Glasgow City Council bin lorry was travelling north on Queen Street outside the Gallery of Modern Art when it was in a collision with a pedestrian”.
He added: “The bin lorry then has continued north on Queen Street, it would appear to have gone up on the footway and there have been a number of other pedestrians it has collided with.”
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “My thoughts with everyone involved in dreadful George Square incident. If you are in city centre, please let your relatives know you are OK.”
UK Prime Minister David Cameron said: “I’m being kept fully briefed on the major incident in Glasgow. My thoughts are with the families of those involved and the emergency services.”
Labour leader Ed Miliband said: “Terrible news from Glasgow – my thoughts are with all those affected by this horrific accident.”
Reports suggested the lorry first struck pedestrians queuing at the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA), a short distance from George Square.
A spokesman at the venue said the museum had not been closed, but could not add any further details.
A message on its Twitter page read: “Due to an incident at George Square, access to GoMA restricted. Road closures in place. Our thoughts are with all those affected.”
Witness says George Square was full - people at ice rink and carousel. Christmas shoppers were on the pavement when lorry hit & kept going.
— Peter A Smith (@PeterAdamSmith) December 22, 2014
Superintendent Stewart Carle of Police Scotland told reporters at the scene that the lorry had hit several pedestrians as it careered along the road.
“I can’t confirm how many fatalities there have been because it is over a number of sites.”
He sought to reassure people saying: “It’s a road traffic accident, nothing more sinister.”
I'm being kept fully briefed on the major incident in Glasgow. My thoughts are with the families of those involved & the emergency services.
— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) December 22, 2014
Witnesses described bodies lying in the road after the accident which happened as the city centre was crowded with Christmas shoppers.
Police Scotland declared a major incident and confirmed there were a “number of fatalities”.
A police statement said: “A Glasgow City Council bin lorry was travelling north on Queen Street when it appeared to strike pedestrians outside the Gallery of Modern Art (Goma) before continuing to travel towards George Square, when it crashed at the Millennium Hotel on Queen Street at George Square.”
Shocked crowds are continuing to gather Around Glasgow crash scene. pic.twitter.com/64wpGb1tkM
— Matthew Coyle (@Mattycoyle) December 22, 2014
Witness Janey Godley told the BBC News Channel that people were ``getting CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) on the ground'' when she arrived in the square.
“I think I was there just as the ambulances arrived, because there was stuff strewn, debris strewn, all over the street, Christmas shopping all over the street,” she said.
Ms Godley said she saw three people being treated by emergency crews.
She said: “People were being worked on, people were fighting for their lives on the pavement as shoppers were standing.
“People just like me had arrived on the most shocking scene they ever wanted to see this Christmas. George Square is a square with a fairground and an ice rink and Santa and the tree and everything.”
Ms Godley added: “It was the most horrible thing to watch all the ambulances and the people in the street, and yet the fairground in the background, and people just in shock.”
She said it was “an awful tragic thing to happen at this time of year”.
Police have confirmed there are a “number of fatalities” after a bin lorry careered out of control hitting pedestrians in the heart of Glasgow today.
More emergency services arriving at Queen Street crash as we speak. pic.twitter.com/K7Yk6dAwvs
— Matthew Coyle (@Mattycoyle) December 22, 2014
Witness tells @STVNews there are injuries as far back as Royal Exchange Square. The bin lorry would have driven 300 feet before stopping.
— Peter A Smith (@PeterAdamSmith) December 22, 2014
Several pedestrians were feared dead after an out of control bin lorry crashed into a group of pedestrians in the heart of Glasgow today.
Eyewitnesses described bodies lying in the road after the accident which happened as the city centre was crowded with Christmas shoppers.
Police Scotland were unable to confirm reports of up to six fatalities in the “serious incident” in Glasgow’s George Square close to Queen Street Station.
The scene outside Queen St station just now pic.twitter.com/1vv26qQK6Y
— Alan Jenkins (@ajjenkins) December 22, 2014
Describing the scene on Twitter, Brett Molloy tweeted: “Whole of George square is shut off, bodies on the road. Scary man.
“Horrible, horrible scenes. Even worse at this time of the year.
“City centre is an eerie, eerie place right now.”
Update: Massive emergency response to George Square bin lorry crash. Several casualties http://t.co/MuOO592eul pic.twitter.com/LZnowfn4lO
— STV News (@STVNews) December 22, 2014
Kevinkm747 tweeted: “Horrific scenes in George Square. Here now and it’s clear to say lives have been lost.”
Restaurant owner George Smith told the BBC he had heard that the bin lorry driver had suffered a heart attack and the vehicle had careered along the street before hitting the pedestrians outside the Millennium Hotel.
He said that the emergency services were on the scene within minutes, adding: “It’s really, really sad.”