A RESCUE effort is underway to free people trapped after a police helicopter crashed into a Glasgow pub last night.
About 120 people were at the Clutha in Stockwell Street when the crash happened. Although many were rescued or escaped, others were trapped when the left-hand side of the building collapsed. It is thought around 30 people were injured although it is not known how seriously.
Humberside Police has urged anyone concerned about relatives to ring The Police Scotland Casualty Bureau on 0800 092 0410.
A large area of the Scottish city centre has been cordoned off as 125 firefighters battle to free those inside with the help of sniffer dogs. A staff member at the Accident and Emergency Department of Glasgow Royal Infirmary said there were "very" serious injuries.
The helicopter came down at 10.25pm last night with three people on board, two police officers and a civilian pilot.
Witness Edward Waltham was 50 yards away when he heard the helicopter hit the pub, causing a "massive explosion".
He said: "There were numerous people pulling people out – doing their best to grab anyone – I helped grab a couple of people. One man covered in dust had very shallow breathing and appeared to be very badly injured. The time it took me to run 50, 60 yards, quite a number of people had run out of the right-hand side of the bar – the side where the band plays – It was the left-hand side of the bar that suffered the damage."
Scottish Labour MP Jim Murphy was nearby when it happened and rushed to help. Speaking later, he wore a shirt covered with blood he said was not his.
Describing the crash as "horrific", the shadow international development minister said: "As you stood there you could see the helicopter embedded in the roof and sticking out the top of the roof and you knew it was something really serious.
"I was just a few yards away and I arrived on the scene outside the pub a few seconds after the impact. No-one knew what it was but you saw the pandemonium of the people trying to get out of the pub. It was almost like slow motion. Like other people you just do what you can to help."
The fire service is in contact with some people trapped inside but Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond said it was likely there would be deaths.
He said: "Our thoughts are with everyone involved with the incident in Glasgow."
