- .Council bin lorry crashes in city centre square shortly after 2.30pm
- .The area was packed with Christmas shoppers and office workers
- .Accident happened near busy Christmas market packed with children
- .Police Scotland say they are treating accident as 'serious incident'
- .Eyewitnesses say lorry came through square at high speed
- .It ploughed into pedestrians and cars and came to halt against hotel
- .Police say it was 'a road traffic collision with multiple fatalities'
- .But it is not being treated as suspicious or as a criminal act, they say
- .Officers have not confirmed reports the driver suffered a heart attack
At least six people are feared dead after a bin lorry mounted a crowded pavement in Glasgow city centre, knocking down scores of pedestrians before it slammed into a hotel wall.
Witnesses say the truck was out of control as it entered George Square and ploughed into pedestrians and cars before crashing next to the entrance of the Scottish city's Queen Street Station.
The area was busy with Christmas shoppers and children heading to a funfair at the time and police have confirmed a 'number of fatalities'.
Witnesses reported seeing injured people strewn across the street as bystanders rushed to help them. Some have claimed the driver suffered a heart attack at the wheel of the vehicle.
Six people are feared dead after a bin lorry crashed onto a crowded pavement near a busy square and station in Glasgow city centre this lunchtime
The lorry crashed into a wall next to the entrance to Queen Street Station next to the Millennium Hotel
Ambulance crews battled to save those injured in the crash and witnesses reported many 'walking wounded'
The square has a Christmas ice rink and fairground which was busy with children enjoying the festive season. The attractions have been closed after police shut off the square following the accident.
Shoppers said the lorry lost control as it drove along the busy street and moved at high speed across the square, knocking over bystanders before it came to a halt in the hotel wall next to an entrance to the bustling Queen Street Station.
Restaurant owner George Smith said it was claimed the lorry driver had a heart attack at the wheel as he drove through the city centre.
Police couldn't say whether the lorry driver was ill before the crash but said he is being treated at hospital.
Shopper Melanie Greig told Sky News: 'The lorry just lost control, it just went along the pavement knocking people down like pinballs. There was a baby in a buggy, there were two little kids. It travelled for 150 or 200 yards.'
Student Lewis Irvine, 17, said: 'I was out doing my Christmas shopping and was walking across George Square when it happened.
'The lorry went swerving along the road and it went up onto the pavement and went into a load of people. It must have hit at least half a dozen people. Then it went into the Millennium Hotel.
'I could see the driver at the wheel. It looked like he was having a fit or something. There were bodies lying on the ground. It was awful.'
Findlay Mair, 23, who was helping to prepare for a photo-shoot in the world famous square, said: 'We were setting up cameras, about 100 yards away, when we heard a huge bang followed by lots of screaming.
'The screaming just kept going on. Suddenly it was just chaos. Some people were running towards the scene, others were just standing stock still, in shock.'
Photos taken by pedestrians show the smashed windscreen of the vehicle after the accident
Police closed off the square as a huge team of emergency service workers moved in to treat the wounded
Bystanders rushed to help those knocked down by the lorry before emergency services arrived
He added: 'I saw one girl who had been hit, lying on the ground. She got up, and blood was pouring from her mouth, then she went down again.
'She was young, of student age. She just screamed, and screamed, and then fell down again. She had terrible injuries.
'A woman motorist got out of her car and just stared at what was unfolding and then started sobbing. She was just yelling 'Oh God, oh God'.
'There was Christmas shopping littered everywhere, among the bodies and bits of the vehicle. And there was blood everywhere. Time seemed to stand still. It was a terrible, terrible scene.
'It was difficult to take in. One minute the square was a typical Christmas scene, with people enjoying their Christmas shopping and the next moment it was just carnage.
'A lot of people were standing there, trying to understand what was happening. Then everyone was calling emergency services.'
He added: 'Emergency services were brilliant. The first paramedics were on the scene within about three minutes, then there was a steady stream of ambulances, fire engines and police cars arriving.'
'The people who were hit had no time to take evasive action. They had no chance. The lorry went straight into them and scattered them like skittles. It was awful.'
Emergency services at the scene of the accident, which happened at around 2.30pm this afternoon
Police have confirmed the incident is being treated as a road traffic incident and nothing more sinister
A firefighter reaches under the council bin lorry whose driver reportedly suffered a seizure or heart attack
Eyewitness Joty Chopra, a 21-year-old student, said: 'We were having lunch around the corner and heard a loud bang and came running out.
'When we got to the scene there were three people lying on the floor - two of them were in a pool of blood.
He added: 'The city centre has been packed today with Christmas shoppers. Other people around us told how the lorry mounted the pavement at quite a high speed.
'The emergency services were on the scene really quickly and have cordoned the area off so we can't see much more.'
Margaret McLuckie, 42, told the Glasgow Evening Times: 'A bin lorry came through the lights at speed. It crashed into the Millenium Hotel. It was terrifying. I just hope they're alright.'
Witness Brett Molloy, who was at the scene, tweeted: 'Holy s*** this major, 2 Bodies on the road, traffic lights down the lot scary s***.
'Whole of George square is shut off, bodies on the road. Scary man.'
Many bystanders were left struggling to come to terms with the dreadful scenes they witnessed
One witness said the driver looked like he was 'having a fit' at the wheel of the vehicle during the crash
Witnesses told of their shock at the scene where a number of people lost their lives this lunchtime
John McCue added: 'The scenes at Queen Street are like something you would see out of a film! Horrible accident to happen especially this time of year.'
Another witness, Peter Smith, said he saw someone with a white sheet draped over them on the ground adding: 'No a very nice atmosphere in town at the moment? No wonder, horrible tragedy'
Debris of parts of cars knocked into by the lorry as it moved across the square was left strewn across the road.
Daily Record reporter Keith Jackson, who was at the scene, said: 'There's walking wounded and lots of people crying and upset. It's pretty unbelievable; horrendous. Everyone is in complete shock.'
Ambulances and fire crews rushed to the scene around 2.30pm and the area has now been closed off by police as they investigate.
Superintendent for Road Policing Division Stewart Carle said he estimated the bin lorry continued for roughly 300m along the pavement after striking the first pedestrian.
He said: 'At about half past two this afternoon a Glasgow City Council refuse bin lorry has been travelling north on Queen Street just outside the Gallery of Modern Art when it collided with a pedestrian.'
The square has now been closed off as police examine the scene and try to work out what happened
Witnesses looked on horror-struck after the accident in the crowded city centre square
Police say they are starting a joint investigation with the Criminal Investigation Department
He added: 'The lorry continued up Queen Street towards George Square and there's been a number of other collisions with pedestrians on the pavement.
'As a consequence there's been a number of fatalities. The bin lorry has come to rest against the Millennium Hotel. I would estimate, from the point of the initial impact to the hotel, about 300m.
'There was a multiple agency response to this from fire, ambulance and police, as well as Glasgow City Council and other support agencies.
'The seriously injured have been taken to the three main Glasgow major incident sites.
'We've declared a major incident and we're working with out partners as quickly as possible to resolve the situation and to identify those who have lost their lives, and to be there to support their families and next of kin.
'I cannot confirm at this stage the number of fatalities there have been because it's over a number of sites and we need to be absolutely certain of those.
'There are three major incident sites in Glasgow, the Western Infirmary, the Southern General, and the Royal Infirmary, and that's where the injured have been taken to.
'I understand there is at least seven people who are seriously injured but that number may rise.
An aerial shot of George Square shows the stretch of pavement where pedestrians were hit (circled, bottom) and the corner of the Millennium Hotel where the lorry ended up, crashed against a wall (circled, top)
Emergency services are now investigating and have urged anyone in the area to contact relatives
The pavement and surrounding street were left strewn with glass and debris from cars and other vehicles
He added: 'The bin lorry is in its final position just at the top of Queen Street at the corner of the Millennium Hotel where it crashed in, and that's how it came to a stop.
'We are currently starting a joint investigation with the Criminal Investigation Department as to what has happened here.
'The driver has been taken to hospital where he is receiving treatment.'
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.'
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.'
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.'
The Scottish Fire Service tweeted: 'Firefighters are in attendance at a serious incident in Queen Street, Glasgow. Our crews are working alongside other emergency responders.'
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