FIGHT FOR LIFE
Glasgow stabbing: Hero delivery driver tells of trying to ‘stem the blood’ of ‘carnage’ victim
A HERO delivery driver has revealed his frantic battle to save the life of a bloodied knife rampage victim in Glasgow.
The worker tried stemming the blood of a terrified handyman as he lay injured on the floor of the Park Inn Hotel.
⚠️ Follow the latest updates on the Glasgow stabbing here
28
28
28
Guests were alerted to the stabbing spree when screams rang out at the city centre hotel after the knifing around 1pm this afternoon.
The guests ran out of their rooms to see victims covered in blood as armed cops burst into the hotel and shot dead the suspect.
Six people, including a police officer and a 17-year-old boy, are seriously injured in hospital after the attack which cops say they are not treating as terror-related.
The officer who was brutally stabbed trying to protect victims from the knife-wielding maniac was named as PC David Whyte, 42.
The injured officer is fighting for his life in hospital and is thought to have been the first cop at the hotel on West George Street.
Sources said the hero cop had been knifed repeatedly as he tried to overpower the knifeman and save other victims.
What we know so far...
- A male suspect was shot by armed cops in
- Six males, one a 42-year-old police officer, were injured in the knifing
- Police have confirmed the incident is not terror-related
- Emergency services declared a major incident
- Boris Johnson said he was 'deeply saddened' by the attack
Recalling Friday's knife horror, the delivery driver said: "I went into the hotel and a guy had stabbed the receptionist and maintenance guy.
"He then ran back up to his room. I was trying to stem the blood of the maintenance guy when the armed police rushed in and went up to his room and shot the guy.
"It was absolute carnage, I was on the floor trying to hold the guy, the maintenance guy – a big puncture wound.
"It was absolutely horrific."
28
28
Officers were on the scene within two minutes of the horror unfolding before armed cops swooped and stormed the hotel.
It was initially feared two other people had been killed in the broad daylight horror attack, the BBC reported.
One of the injured victims being treated at Glasgow Royal Infirmary is understood to be a 17-year-old boy from Sierra Leone, BBC Scotland reports.
The other four injured males are aged 18, 20, 38 and 53.
HOTEL HORROR
They are understood to include residents at the Park Inn hotel, a hotel receptionist and a handyman.
The hotel has been used to house asylum seekers during the coronavirus pandemic.
Owners Radisson confirmed the Park Inn was partly being used as temporary accommodation, a policy which has received criticism from campaigners.
The knifeman is believed to have been .
He was from Sudan and had threatened other refugees rehoused in the hotel after complaining he was "very hungry",
The attacker was a Sudanese asylum seeker and he’d been telling his friends that he was very hungry in the hotel.
Ako Zada, an activist from Kurdish Community Scotland
Ako Zada, an activist from Kurdish Community Scotland, told the Telegraph: “The attacker was a Sudanese asylum seeker and he’d been telling his friends that he was very hungry in the hotel.
"In the past few days he was threatening people, and it was reported to the staff the day before.
"These people had been living in their houses but were moved into hotels during the pandemic.
"Their money for buying food and essentials was stopped and [instead] they were fed three times a day but people were complaining at getting the same spaghetti and macaroni cheese all the time.
"It wasn’t culturally appropriate for them. It was not very hygienic, and to have their money taken away was completely humiliating and very damaging for their mental health.
"Sitting in a hotel for three months was a big issue - they said it was like being in prison."
The carnage is believed to have started in the hotel before spilling out on to the street.
Horrified witnesses say they saw stricken victims being carried from the hotel on stretchers.
28
28
28
Iain Livingstone, Chief Constable of Police Scotland, paid tribute to PC Whyte.
He 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."
One man could be seen lying soaked in blood on steps outside the hotel after the carnage.
Others were carried to ambulances with blood splatters on their clothing as police led the hotel guests to safety.
Traumatised witnesses say victims were pulled from the hotel as blood splattered the walls.
One described hearing a chilling scream - causing him to run out of his room.
'COVERED IN BLOOD'
He then saw blood covering the reception of the hotel as armed cops stormed in.
One witness said: "That's where I saw the whole reception area was covered in blood.
"One of the receptionists was stabbed and lying behind the desk.
"He was gasping for air."
28
28
28
28
An asylum seeker who was moved to the Park Inn Hotel three weeks ago, was awoken by screaming just after 1pm.
He told The Times: “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.
“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."
28
28
28
28
28
Hotel guest Nicholas, 27, said: "I heard people screaming.
"When I went down to the reception there was blood everywhere.
"Two of the receptionists had been stabbed, both males.
"There was a man who was holding his waist.
"I told them to stay calm and not worry.
"I saw another receptionist who was lying on the stairs, they'd been stabbed.
One of the police officers came out with blood on his face, he had been stabbed
Nicholas, hotel guest
"When I was out of the hotel for ten minutes one of the police officers came out with blood on his face, he had been stabbed."
Matthew Nesbitt told Sky News he heard screaming so looked out of his window to see a man lying on the steps outside the hotel.
He added: "I heard the gunshot.
"One of the men, one of the victims, had blood coming from their torso and on the steps."
Some witnesses have reported how police wielding guns yelled at people to put their hands up.
One told : "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.
"I saw at least three people injured and they were taken away in ambulances."
28
28
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 added: "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.
"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."
Police Scotland said the incident was"contained"; and they are not looking for anyone else.
28
28
28
Council leaders have been asked to respond to claims the knifings happened as the city became a "powder keg" of tension during the crisis.
Protestors campaigned about the living conditions of refugees in Glasgow this month.
And on Wednesday, June 17, at least six people were arrested when 'far-right' campaigners targeted a rally.
Boris Johnson 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.
The PM has tweeted his support to those affected, saying: "Deeply saddened by the terrible incident in , my thoughts are with all the victims and their families.
"Thank you to our brave emergency services who are responding."
And he thanked the Chief Constable of Police Scotland, Iain Livingstone, for the exceptional bravery of his officers at the scene.
28
Ms Sturgeon told the BBC today's incident was "truly dreadful".
She added: "The injury of a police officer, of course, reminds us of the bravery of our police service.
"They run towards dangers as the rest of us would run away."
Assistant Chief Constable Steve Johnson said: "A man was shot by armed police and has died.
"Six other men are in hospital for treatment, including a 42-year-old police officer, who is in a critical but stable condition. The officer's family is aware.
";The other men in hospital are aged 17, 18, 20, 38 and 53. Liaison officers have been appointed.
"Our thoughts are with the families of those who were injured, including our officer."
The shooting has been referred to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner to investigate.
The injury of a police officer, of course, reminds us of the bravery of our police service
Nicola Sturgeon
Rooms at the 3-star Park Inn hotel, situated just five minutes' walk from Glasgow Central train station, cost from £59 a night.
During lockdown, the hotel has been used to help shelter asylum seekers and trafficking victims by accommodation provider Mears Group.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Fears were raised in April over social-distancing measures among the men, women and families moved into shelter amid the coronavirus crisis.
28
28
28
28
28
Emotional Glasgow attack eyewitness Matthew Nesbitt describes what he saw as he urges others to respect police
Topics