Glasgow stabbing - Asylum seeker shot dead by cops 'threatened violence & complained of hunger' days before stabbing six | The Sun

AN asylum seeker shot dead by police after a knife rampage in Glasgow today had threatened violence and complained of hunger days before the attack, it is claimed.

A police officer is fighting for his life and five other males are injured in hospital after this afternoon's city-centre stabbing .

⚠️ Follow the latest updates on the Glasgow stabbing here

Six people were injured in today's Glasgow bloodbathCredit: Twitter/Milroy1717

The injured victims, including a 42-year-old police officer, are being treated in hospitalCredit: Twitter

PC David Whyte was injured by a knife maniac in Friday's stabbings in Glasgow

The knifeman is believed to have been from Sudan and had threatened other refugees rehoused in a hotel recently after complaining about living conditions, the Telegraph reports.

Horrified witnesses saw stricken victims being carried from the Park Inn Hotel on stretchers after this afternoon's bloodbath.

Tonight, the officer who was stabbed trying to protect victims from the knife-wielding maniac was named as PC David Whyte, 42.

ATTACKERS COMPLAINTS

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 was stabbed repeatedly as he tried to overpower the knifeman.

Police Scotland said they are not treating the attack as terror related.

The hotel at the centre of the horrific stabbings has been used as temporary accommodation for asylum seekers during the coronavirus pandemic.

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.

What we know so far...

A male suspect was shot by armed cops in Glasgow
Six males including a police officer were injured in the knife attack
Emergency services have declared a major incident
Boris Johnson said he said 'deeply saddened' by the attack

"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."

HOTEL BLOODBATH

The stabbing is believed to have started in the hotel before spilling out on to the street.

Terrified screams alerted guests to the horror as gun cops burst in and shot dead the suspect.

Emergency crews swooped on the busy street in Glasgow as the stabbing spree unfolded.

Two other people were initially feared to have been killed in the broad daylight horror attack, the BBC reports.

But tonight, Police Scotland said six people were injured in hospital including the 42-year-old police officer and a 17-year-old boy.

The other victims, all men, are aged 18, 20, 38 and 53.

A police officer has been injured in the knife attack

Armed cops stormed a hotel in the city centre todayCredit: Twitter

Tonight, 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."

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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.

Council leaders have been asked to respond to claims the knifings happened as the city became a "powder keg" of tension during the crisis.

It comes after protesters 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.

Chain Radisson confirmed the Park Inn is partly being used to house asylum seekers.

Police Scotland confirmed a man has been shot and said the incident is "contained" and they are not looking for anyone else.

ACC Steve Johnson said: "The individual who was shot by armed police has died. Six other people are in hospital for treatment to their injuries including a police officer, who is in a critical but stable condition.

"We are continuing to deal with the incident on West George Street #Glasgow and would ask people to avoid the area. We would urge the public not to speculate about this incident or share unconfirmed information on social media."

Boris Johnson has tweeted his support to those affected, saying: "Deeply saddened by the terrible incident in Glasgow, my thoughts are with all the victims and their families.

"Thank you to our brave emergency services who are responding."

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.

He then saw blood covering the reception of the hotel as armed cops stormed in.

Some bystanders believe they saw two hotel workers with knife wounds - including one with a slash to his abdomen - but this has not been confirmed.

The victim was said to be "gasping for breath" as he lay in the reception room.

A woman is led to safety from the hotelCredit: Alan MacGregor Ewing - The Sun Glasgow

A bystander is taken from the hotel by an armed officerCredit: Alan MacGregor Ewing - The Sun Glasgow

A medical officer makes his way into the bloodbathCredit: Alan MacGregor Ewing - The Sun Glasgow

An armed cop stands watch at the scene of the rampageCredit: Alan MacGregor Ewing - The Sun Glasgow

Armed cops could be seen running through the streets

The horror unfolded at a hotel before spilling out on to the streetCredit: Alan MacGregor Ewing - The Sun Glasgow

There is a huge police presence Credit: Reuters

A police officer was injuredCredit: SNS Group

Cops clear the area as they declared a major incident

Witnesses reported seeing bloodied victims

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.

"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."

Some witnesses have reported how police wielding guns yelled at people to put their hands up.

One told Sky News: "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."

A man is attended to by medics in Glasgow

A suspect has been shotCredit: jamiewilliamson.com

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."

The rampage unfolded this afternoon on a busy Glasgow streetCredit: PA:Press Association

A forensic officer on the scene todayCredit: PA:Press Association

The hotel has been housing asylum seekers during the coronavirus pandemicCredit: PA:Press Association

Queen Elizabeth University Hospital were "braced" for a major incident.

Offices in the area have been locked down while police investigate.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said: "Deeply alarming reports coming from Glasgow. Please follow police advice and avoid the area. Thoughts are with the emergency services as they continue to respond to this incident."

While First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: "My thoughts are with all those who have been injured in the incident in Glasgow today.

"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."

Rooms at the 3-star Park Inn hotel, situated just five minutes' walk from Glasgow Central train station, cost from £59 a night.