Six dead after police helicopter crashes through roof of Glasgow pub

At least six people are feared dead and more than 30 people were injured when a police helicopter crashed into the roof of a Glasgow pub in the city centre last night.

The crash occurred at the The Clutha in Glasgow’s Stockwell Street, on the banks of the Clyde at 10:25pm.

Police Scotland confirmed that two police officers and a civilian pilot were on board the Eurocopter EC135 T2 which crashed into the pub.

Eye witnesses describe seeing the police helicopter as “falling from the sky like a stone”.

Emergency services were quick to attend the scene, however pub regulars, who were inside the pub had already began a makeshift rescue, helping to get the injured to safety.  

A police officer at the scene said there were a ‘few confirmed deaths’ but could not say how many.

Sky News is reporting that a source has said that at least six people were killed in the incident.

Police Scotland have confirmed that 32 people have been taken to hospital to treatment with staff at Glasgow Royal Infirmary describing some of the injuries as “very serious”.

Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has warned that the public must be prepared for the likelihood of fatalities.

According to reports the incident is no longer being treated as a rescue situation, but a recovery one.

Around 125 people were thought to have been in the pub at the time of the crash watching a band play.

Labour’s international development spokesman Jim Murphy, was at the scene  and described the scene as “tragic” and that he saw a “pile of people clammering out” of the Glasgow bar.

“I was in a pub about 200 yards away, someone said they heard a helicopter in trouble.

“I drove down, parked the car on a double yellow and saw smoke coming out of the door and it was obvious something bloody awful had happened.

“Part of the helicopter is sticking out of the roof, you can make out the helicopter.

“We knew people were still in the pub, so human instinct just takes over, you jump in.

“There was dust and debris – it’s not a pub I know, I don’t know the layout of the inside of the pub.

“You just see dust and debris, you know there are injured people.”