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| Glasgow attack: 17-year-old among six men injured as police confirm incident not terror-related - live | Glasgow attack: 17-year-old among six men injured as police confirm incident not terror-related - live |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Suspect shot dead by police; 42-year-old police officer among injured in incident in West George Street | Suspect shot dead by police; 42-year-old police officer among injured in incident in West George Street |
| Nicola Sturgeon has posted this message of solidarity on Twitter. | |
| Mears Group, an asylum accommodation contractor, is believed to have been employed by the Home Office to relocate around 400 asylum seekers in Glasgow during the pandemic, according to The Daily Telegraph. | |
| They were re-homed across six hotels in the city, including at the Park Inn hotel where the attacks happened. | |
| John Barrowman MBE, the Glasgow-born actor, tweeted a video from California saying he had woken up to the “horrific, horrible news about the stabbings”. | |
| Some eyewitness accounts. | Some eyewitness accounts. |
| Chris Falchi-Stead was hosting a meeting at the Big Issue’s office, close to the Park Inn Hotel where the stabbings took place. | Chris Falchi-Stead was hosting a meeting at the Big Issue’s office, close to the Park Inn Hotel where the stabbings took place. |
| He said: “When we looked out the window we noticed there must have been 20 or 30 police cars and about 10 ambulances.” | He said: “When we looked out the window we noticed there must have been 20 or 30 police cars and about 10 ambulances.” |
| Stuart Gibson, who lives on West George Street near the hotel where the incident happened, told the BBC: “Armed police rushed into the hotel, it made it look as if they were looking for something. | Stuart Gibson, who lives on West George Street near the hotel where the incident happened, told the BBC: “Armed police rushed into the hotel, it made it look as if they were looking for something. |
| “There was certainly one person who was carried out by police.” | “There was certainly one person who was carried out by police.” |
| A tweet from the Scottish Refugee Council. | A tweet from the Scottish Refugee Council. |
| Humza Yousaf, Scotland’s justice minister, has called for communities in Glasgow to remain united. | Humza Yousaf, Scotland’s justice minister, has called for communities in Glasgow to remain united. |
| Positive Action in Housing, a campaign group, has criticised private housing provider Mears, which is subcontracted by the Home Office, for moving refugees from self-contained accommodation to hotels. | Positive Action in Housing, a campaign group, has criticised private housing provider Mears, which is subcontracted by the Home Office, for moving refugees from self-contained accommodation to hotels. |
| A spokeswoman for Positive Action in Housing said the 91-room Park Inn Hotel was housing asylum seekers for the Mears Group, which moved them there during the coronavirus lockdown. | A spokeswoman for Positive Action in Housing said the 91-room Park Inn Hotel was housing asylum seekers for the Mears Group, which moved them there during the coronavirus lockdown. |
| A Mears Group spokesman said: “We are referring all inquiries to the Home Office as this is an ongoing police operation.” | A Mears Group spokesman said: “We are referring all inquiries to the Home Office as this is an ongoing police operation.” |
| A Home Office spokesman said: “We are aware of an incident at West George Street in Glasgow, which is currently being investigated by the police.” | A Home Office spokesman said: “We are aware of an incident at West George Street in Glasgow, which is currently being investigated by the police.” |
| The hotel at the centre of the stabbing incident in Glasgow has been used to house asylum seekers during the coronavirus pandemic. | The hotel at the centre of the stabbing incident in Glasgow has been used to house asylum seekers during the coronavirus pandemic. |
| Radisson confirmed the Park Inn was partly being used as temporary accommodation, a policy which has received criticism from campaigners. | Radisson confirmed the Park Inn was partly being used as temporary accommodation, a policy which has received criticism from campaigners. |
| Nicola Sturgeon referred to the tensions, which have surfaced in the city’s George Square amid protests about the living conditions of refugees, when talking about the incident today. | Nicola Sturgeon referred to the tensions, which have surfaced in the city’s George Square amid protests about the living conditions of refugees, when talking about the incident today. |
| At least six people were arrested on June 17 following scenes labelled “disgraceful” by the First Minister, when far-right loyalists targeted the rally. | At least six people were arrested on June 17 following scenes labelled “disgraceful” by the First Minister, when far-right loyalists targeted the rally. |
| Asked about the hotel being used to house asylum seekers, Sturgeon said: “Of course people are worried and yes people have an understanding of the location and what that location has been used for in recent times, but beyond that I don’t think it’s helpful for people to speculate. | Asked about the hotel being used to house asylum seekers, Sturgeon said: “Of course people are worried and yes people have an understanding of the location and what that location has been used for in recent times, but beyond that I don’t think it’s helpful for people to speculate. |
| “Clearly there have been some tensions in Glasgow as there have been in other parts of the UK in recent times, but I want to send a message to people across Glasgow and across Scotland: when dreadful things like this happen, they shock all of us to our core but above all this should remind us of what unites us and not what divides us.” | “Clearly there have been some tensions in Glasgow as there have been in other parts of the UK in recent times, but I want to send a message to people across Glasgow and across Scotland: when dreadful things like this happen, they shock all of us to our core but above all this should remind us of what unites us and not what divides us.” |
| Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council, was asked about a suggestion that Glasgow was a “powder keg” and the incident could lead to further disorder in the city. | Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council, was asked about a suggestion that Glasgow was a “powder keg” and the incident could lead to further disorder in the city. |
| Earlier this month there were violent scenes in the city when far right supporters turned up at a rally in support of refugees. | Earlier this month there were violent scenes in the city when far right supporters turned up at a rally in support of refugees. |
| Aitken said Glasgow had faced tragedy in the past and would come through it by supporting each other and not allowing communities to become divided. | Aitken said Glasgow had faced tragedy in the past and would come through it by supporting each other and not allowing communities to become divided. |
| She told Reporting Scotland: “I would absolutely urge anyone not to politicise this, not to use this to divide the city.” | She told Reporting Scotland: “I would absolutely urge anyone not to politicise this, not to use this to divide the city.” |
| Aitken added: “There has been a lot of speculation this afternoon which hasn’t been helpful which doesn’t help. It’s not fair to the victims, it’s not fair to the victims’ families and it doesn’t help the city. | Aitken added: “There has been a lot of speculation this afternoon which hasn’t been helpful which doesn’t help. It’s not fair to the victims, it’s not fair to the victims’ families and it doesn’t help the city. |
| “Glasgow needs to pull together, we need to have each others’ backs and support our communities through this. Division is the last thing we need.” | “Glasgow needs to pull together, we need to have each others’ backs and support our communities through this. Division is the last thing we need.” |
| A witness, an asylum seeker who was moved to the Park Inn Hotel by authorities three weeks ago, said he was awoken by screaming just after 1pm.Speaking on condition of anonymity he told The Times: “I looked out the window and saw a crowd of people gathered outside. I heard people screaming for help and was really worried so I went outside. | A witness, an asylum seeker who was moved to the Park Inn Hotel by authorities three weeks ago, said he was awoken by screaming just after 1pm.Speaking on condition of anonymity he told The Times: “I looked out the window and saw a crowd of people gathered outside. I heard people screaming for help and was really worried so I went outside. |
| “I summoned the lift but when the door opened it was covered in blood, all over the walls. I took the stairs and came down. | “I summoned the lift but when the door opened it was covered in blood, all over the walls. I took the stairs and came down. |
| “When I got downstairs I saw one of the male receptionists. He was covered in blood. He had been stabbed in the abdomen.“There was blood all over the carpet. At the entrance I saw two police officers. | “When I got downstairs I saw one of the male receptionists. He was covered in blood. He had been stabbed in the abdomen.“There was blood all over the carpet. At the entrance I saw two police officers. |
| “They were assisting another receptionist who had also been stabbed, on the stairs at the entrance. | “They were assisting another receptionist who had also been stabbed, on the stairs at the entrance. |
| “They were lying on the ground. I immediately called my mother and told her to stay in the room with the door locked and stay as calm as possible.“When I came outside people were shouting and saying the man was still inside the hotel. I feel so lucky that I didn’t encounter him when I was trying to get out. | “They were lying on the ground. I immediately called my mother and told her to stay in the room with the door locked and stay as calm as possible.“When I came outside people were shouting and saying the man was still inside the hotel. I feel so lucky that I didn’t encounter him when I was trying to get out. |
| “It’s terrifying thinking what could have happened. A few minutes later a police officer came outside with his face covered in blood. He looked like he’d been in a struggle.” | “It’s terrifying thinking what could have happened. A few minutes later a police officer came outside with his face covered in blood. He looked like he’d been in a struggle.” |
| A Number 10 spokesperson said: “The PM has this afternoon spoken with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon about the incident in Glasgow. | A Number 10 spokesperson said: “The PM has this afternoon spoken with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon about the incident in Glasgow. |
| “He has also held a meeting with the Home Secretary and senior police officers, in which he was updated. | “He has also held a meeting with the Home Secretary and senior police officers, in which he was updated. |
| “The Prime Minister thanked the Chief Constable of Police Scotland, Iain Livingstone, for the exceptional bravery of his officers at the scene. The PM’s thoughts remain with the injured and their loved ones.” | “The Prime Minister thanked the Chief Constable of Police Scotland, Iain Livingstone, for the exceptional bravery of his officers at the scene. The PM’s thoughts remain with the injured and their loved ones.” |
| Craig Milroy was working nearby and said that he saw an injured man lying on the steps outside the Park Inn Hotel. | Craig Milroy was working nearby and said that he saw an injured man lying on the steps outside the Park Inn Hotel. |
| He added he saw up to seven people being taken away in ambulances. | He added he saw up to seven people being taken away in ambulances. |
| Craig said: “I saw a man with no T-shirt, no shoes lying on the ground with what looked like a stab wound with someone compressing the wound. | Craig said: “I saw a man with no T-shirt, no shoes lying on the ground with what looked like a stab wound with someone compressing the wound. |
| “We looked further up and we saw a large police presence. Then we saw the man with the stab wound being taken away in an ambulance being put on oxygen. | “We looked further up and we saw a large police presence. Then we saw the man with the stab wound being taken away in an ambulance being put on oxygen. |
| “After that the police came over, told us to move into our office and lock the doors. That’s when the alarm bells started ringing,” he told the BBC News Channel | “After that the police came over, told us to move into our office and lock the doors. That’s when the alarm bells started ringing,” he told the BBC News Channel |
| “The man we saw, it looked maybe like he had tried to run away from the hotel. | “The man we saw, it looked maybe like he had tried to run away from the hotel. |
| “The man we saw outside our office, it looked like maybe he tried to escape any incident that happened but before that it looked like everything was happening within the hotel.” | “The man we saw outside our office, it looked like maybe he tried to escape any incident that happened but before that it looked like everything was happening within the hotel.” |