Glasgow stabbings: Hero police officer critical after stabbing attack in city centre

A police officer is among six people in hospital following a stabbing attack at a Glasgow city centre hotel.

Constable David Whyte, 42, is in a critical but stable condition after suffering knife wounds at the Park Inn hotel on Friday afternoon.

Five other people, aged 17, 18, 20, 38 and 53, are also being treated in hospital but their conditions have not been revealed.

Armed police shot dead a male suspect during the incident, which is not being treated as terrorism.

Police listed the attacker as the only fatality, despite earlier reports that he had killed two other people.

Eyewitnesses told Paste BN they saw people, bloodied, being carried on stretchers from the hotel, which had been housing a number of asylum seekers and refugees during the coronavirus lockdown.

Louisa, who was in a building nearby, told Paste BN: "I saw people being treated with blood on the ground.

"I saw people running out of the hotel with the police shouting 'Put your hands up, put your hands up, come out'.

"There were police cars, ambulances all over the street and they cordoned it off. Police were shouting to people in other buildings near the Park Inn hotel to stay inside and not come into the street.

"There were quite a number of people coming out with their hands up, running down the steps of the hotel. I saw people with blood on them, all over the ground."

Paste BN' Scotland correspondent, James Matthews, said he had spoken with one of the hotel guests who had been woken up by screaming.

"He said he headed to reception via the lift and the elevator was covered in blood. He got out to the main area and saw a male receptionist who had suffered an injury, was covered in blood and was gasping for air.

"He said there was a second male receptionist on the exterior steps of the hotel and he was also injured and was gasping for air."

Police Scotland Chief Constable Iain Livingstone said: "My thoughts and very best wishes are with those who have been injured and their families, including our colleague Constable David Whyte who was seriously injured in the course of doing his duty. I offer my personal support to all those affected.

"Officers have once again run into danger to protect their fellow citizens. Their professionalism as police officers was outstanding.

"I pay tribute to their bravery, selflessness and commitment to protecting the public."