A police helicopter crashed into the city's Clutha pub, with 32 people and an unknown number still trapped inside the wreckage of the bar
- Police Scotland say that 32 people have been taken to hospital
- Two police officers and a civilian pilot on board the helicopter were killed
- Around 125 people are thought to have been in the pub at the time
- First Minister Alex Salmond described it as a 'black day' for Scotland
- Sir Stephen House said it is not known how many people are still inside
- Eye witness said it looked as though the propellers weren't working
- They said the helicopter dropped from the sky 'like a stone' at 10.25pm
- Bystanders created a human chain to carry the wounded from the venue
- Jim Murphy MP said it was a 'horrible scene' surrounded by ambulances
- Police have set up a telephone number for anyone concerned about relatives
- Scottish Cup football matches will hold a minutes silence before kick off
Thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the crash.
John McGarrigle tells reporters at the scene of the crash today that he fears his father may have been killed in the crash
Mr McGarrigle, 38, shows reporters a mobile phone picture of his father. Eyewitnesses have told him that the aircraft came down where his father was sitting
Mr McGarrigle showed reporters a picture of him and his father, also called John
At least six people have reportedly been killed and more than 30 injured when a police helicopter crashed into a busy Glasgow city centre pub
Rescue workers cover the wreckage of a police helicopter which crashed onto the roof of the Clutha Vaults pub in Glasgow last night killing 'at least six people'
More than 30 people were injured in the incident at The Clutha pub in the city centre at around 10.25pm last night
A police officer lays a floral tribute close to the scene of the helicopter crash
Emergency services and survivors had to drag customers out of the premises after the aircraft fell from the sky 'like a stone' when its rotor blades apparently stopped spinning in mid air.
Police confirmed that a search and rescue operation is still underway at the site.
More than 100 firefighters were working at the scene overnight.
Sir Stephen said that although the structure of the building is now more secure than it was this morning, police will not 'know what is underneath' the helicopter until it is moved.
John McGarrigle, who was due to go to The Clutha last night, told reporters earlier today that he fears his father may have been one of the victims of the crash.
The 38-year-old said that his father, also called John, was at the pub when the aircraft crash landed and that eyewitnesses told him that it came through the roof in the spot where he had been sitting.
He told reporters: 'I think he was in there when it crashed. I've checked every hospital and there's no sign of him.'
Mr McGarrigle said that a friend called Fiona told him what had happened inside the pub and that he believes his father's body is still inside the building.
He said: 'The realisation, and just a deep instinct ... kicked in right away as soon as I heard there was an accident at Clutha. I just knew something bad had happened to him.
Paul Watt, a regular at the Clutha pub, is pictured in tears at the police cordon this morning
One of the wheels of the helicopter and part of the 'police' sign on the aircraft are visible as rescue crews work on the scene this morning
Police have so far confirmed that one person died in the incident but added that they expect that number to rise
Police officers speak to to two women at a hotel opposite the crash site
'When I came round and seen where the position of the helicopter (was) that was when I knew, because he sat in that spot all the time, where the helicopter hit.
'I am still shaking.'
Mr McGarrigle said he unsuccessfully tried to get information from the accident helpline set up for those affected.
'I said my dad is dead, probably lying underneath that helicopter,' he said.
'I could walk in there and pinpoint him myself in the rubble.'
In a Facebook post today, Esperanza, the band playing at the bar last said that the incident seems 'horribly real'.
Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond described it as a 'black day' for Scotland and paid tribute to the 'instinctive courage' of rescue crews and members of the public who helped the injured.
Fire crews who worked through the night to rescue those trapped inside are pictured at the scene of the crash this morning
The propeller blades are visible on the top of the roof as firefighters use cherry pickers to examine the site
Firefighters try to access the pub in Glasgow where a helicopter crashed into a roof
A firefighter is seen standing over a propeller blade which is sticking out of the roof of the pub
He said: 'Our condolences go to those who are bereaved and our solidarity is with those who were injured.
'This is a black day for Scotland, but it's also St Andrew's Day and a day that we can take pride and courage in how we respond to adversity and tragedy.'
Chief constable Sir Stephen House told reporters gathered at the Police Scotland headquarters: 'It has been an emotional few hours but it's the job of everyone here to deal with it effectively.
'This is a very difficult and sensitive operation and the scene is a particularly challenging one.
'Given the damage caused and the nature of that damage, it will take some time to complete the search of the building.
'The safety of those conducting the operation is of the highest importance.'
Prime Minister David Cameron also sent his condolences to all those involved in the crash.
A damaged part of the helicopter lies next to an ambulance
Scottish Fire and Rescue firefighters and USAR (Urban Search and Rescue) teams use ropes to stabilise a ladder as they stand on the roof of the pub
He added: 'I want to thank the emergency services who worked tirelessly throughout the night and I also want to pay tribute to the bravery of the ordinary Glaswegians who rushed to help.
'We have offered the Scottish Government our support in any way we can and we are all wishing a speedy recovery to those who are injured.'
Eyewitness Fraser Gibson, 34, who was in the pub with his brother to see his former band, said:
'Midway through their set it sounded like a giant explosion. The room was covered in dust.
'We didn’t know what had happened. We froze for a second; there was panic and then people trying to get out the door.'
Another witness said: ‘It was total bedlam.'
Witnesses said bystanders did not flee the scene and rushed to help by creating a human chain to lift the wounded from the pub to safety.
Emergency crews from across Scotland joined the rescue effort with crews from Edinburgh, Dundee and Falkirk helping their Glaswegian colleagues.
People are rushed away from the scene to a nearby Holiday Inn for treatment
The scene was cordoned off on Stockwell Street which is close to the River Clyde
Part of the aircraft with the letters 'C' and 'E' written on is seen sticking out of the roof of the pub
A Twitter user takes to social media after hearing a crash in the city centre
The letters on the side of the aircraft indicate it could be a police helicopter which crashed into the roof of the pub
Rescue workers examine the wreckage of a police helicopter on the roof of the pub
Rescue workers attempt to secure the structure of the building and rescue those trapped inside
Multiple police vans and ambulances block the street which is next to the River Clyde
Paramedics wait to treat the injured at the pub in Glasgow city centre last night
Wreckage of the police helicopter which crashed into the roof. Eye witnesses said the propellers did not seem to be working
Strathclyde Fire and Rescue have said there are 15 engines at the site and a number of ambulances
The emergency services over the roof of the pub, trying to get access to the venue
Twitter picture of the Clutha Bar in Glasgow where a police helicopter has crashed into the roof
The helicopter crashed into the venue near the river Clyde
The area surrounding the pub has been sealed off by a police cordon today as rescue teams continue to work at the site
The Clutha bar is pictured close to the banks of the River Clyde in Glasgow
Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond described it as a 'black day' for Scotland at a press conference today
'The police, ambulances, firefighters all did a stellar job and continue to do so today in extremely difficult conditions.'
'Our biggest concern is that everyone is found and can get the care and help they need.'
Grace McClean, who was inside the pub at the time of the crash, told the BBC: 'There was a ska band on in the pub at the back. It was fairly busy, we were having a nice time.
'There was a woosh noise and then there was a bang. There was what seemed like smoke, but the band carried on playing.
'The whole pub just filled with dust, you couldn't see anything and you couldn't breathe.
'We managed to get outside, we found our friends, people were coming out covered in blood.'
She said that she didn't think that the aircraft had crashed as there was no sound or explosion and speculated that the pilot had tried to land on the roof of the pub.
Claire Morris, who lives near the bar, told BBC News: 'We heard this bang. We didn't really know what had happened and then we heard people coming out and screaming.
Police officers rush to set up a cordon to keep onlookers away from the pub
The helicopter crashed into the roof of the pub on Stockewell Street in Glasgow
WHY THE SAME MODEL OF HELICOPTER WAS GROUNDED LAST YEAR
Police have confirmed that the helicopter that crashed was a Eurocopter EC135 T2 similar to the one pictured
The model of helicopter which crashed into a crowded pub in Glasgow was grounded last year after safety concerns.
The announcement was made at a Scottish Ambulance Service board meeting last year because of a 'crack' found on one of the aircrafts during a routine inspection.
It left large amounts of the UK without air amublance cover.
Bond Air Services operate 22 Eurocopter EC135 helicopters across the UK and all were withdrawn, including the 2 Scottish Air Ambulance helicopters and Strathclyde police helicopter.
According to the minutes from the meeting: 'The manufacturer of the aircraft, Eurocopter, and the customer, the Scottish Ambulance Service, were immediately notified of the defect. The main rotor hub shaft was returned to Eurocopter, to allow them to investigate the cause of the crack.
'A replacement component was fitted to the aircraft in question, which subsequently resumed operations for the Scottish Ambulance Service.
'At that time, thorough inspections of the entire EC135 fleet were conducted to ensure continued air worthiness prior to any further operations. The results of the inspections stated that the crack was an isolated case.'
The company chose to suspend flying until they received reassurances from Eurocopter that the EC135 was safe.
'I wasn't sure whether there had been an explosion. My daughter said to me it was a helicopter that had hit the roof.'
Brendan Riordan, who was inside the pub at the time of the crash,said it had been 'packed'.
He said: 'It was quite hard to move in there with the amount of people enjoying the gig.'
Mr Riordan added that he heard 'a very loud bang' before a cloud of dust filled the pub.
'After I exited the pub I saw people coming out covered in blood and covered in dust,' he said.
'There were people quite desperate and just before I left the inside of the pub I noticed that the ceiling had fallen towards the bar.
'People were not aware that a helicopter had crash-landed on the pub.'
Another Twitter user said: 'This is unbelievable. Just spent 20 minutes pulling people out the bar. Apparently a helicopter crashed on the roof.'
Gordon Smart, a Scottish newspaper editor, told Sky News: 'I was in a car park and looked up and saw a helicopter which I think was a police helicopter.
Fire crews look through the door of the pub in an attempt to free anyone trapped inside
The Prime Minister takes to Twitter to say his thoughts are with those involved
Labour leader Ed Miliband also took to Twitter to express his horror at the news
The Police Memorial Trust said their thoughts were with the crew on board
- Police have set up a telephone number for members of the public who are concerned about relatives who may have been involved in the crash. The number is 0800 092 0410.
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