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Bin lorry deaths: Glasgow crash killed five females and male George Square crash: Three family members killed in Glasgow
(about 1 hour later)
The six people who were killed by an out-of-control bin lorry in Glasgow city centre included five females and one male, police have confirmed. Three of the six victims of the Glasgow bin lorry crash were members of the same family, BBC Scotland understands.
The bodies have been removed from the scene and formal identification will take place. The council bin lorry has also been removed. Jack Sweeney, his wife Lorraine and their 18-year-old granddaughter Erin McQuade were among the dead.
Police said 10 others, including the driver, were injured. Mr and Mrs Sweeney were from Dumbarton. Their granddaughter worked for Cameron House Hotel Resort, near Loch Lomond.
The bin lorry crashed in George Square after careering up Queen Street at about 14:30 on Monday. Police have confirmed that those who died included five females and one male and said 10 others, including the driver, were injured.
Of the 10 casualties, four have since been discharged, while six others remain in hospital. Two casualties are in an Intensive Therapy Unit. It is believed Mr Sweeney had previously lived in Ontario, in the east of Canada, where he was president of Bramalea Celtic supporters club.
A statement posted on the Bramalea Celtic supporters club Facebook page said: "It is with great shock and sadness we share with you our friend and past president Jack Sweeney, his wife Lorraine and granddaughter Erin were victims of today's tragedy in Glasgow.
"Our thoughts and prayers go to the family and friends of the Sweeney family."
Mr Sweeney and his wife Lorraine are understood to be an elderly couple.
Their granddaughter Erin worked at Cameron House, which said in a statement: "Cameron House Hotel and Resort are saddened to hear we have lost one of our brightest and dedicated members of housekeeping staff, Erin McQuade.
"We want to offer our deepest condolences and sympathies to the family of Erin and to all those who have been affected by the tragic events at George Square yesterday."
Of the 10 casualties, four have since been discharged, while six others remain in hospital. Two casualties are in an intensive therapy unit.
Bodies removedBodies removed
The bodies of the victims were removed from the scene overnight in a fleet of private ambulances.The bodies of the victims were removed from the scene overnight in a fleet of private ambulances.
An investigation is continuing to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the crash. Police said they hoped to re-open George Square later on Tuesday.An investigation is continuing to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the crash. Police said they hoped to re-open George Square later on Tuesday.
Glasgow City Council leader Gordon Matheson said the plan was to have the square, which hosts the city's Christmas Festival, fully operational on Wednesday.Glasgow City Council leader Gordon Matheson said the plan was to have the square, which hosts the city's Christmas Festival, fully operational on Wednesday.
Mr Matheson, Lord Provost Sadie Docherty and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon all spoke at the scene on Tuesday morning where hundreds of floral tributes have been placed.
Ms Sturgeon said: "Glasgow this morning is a broken-hearted city. 2014 has been such an incredible year for this wonderful city, the Commonwealth Games were such an outstanding success, but it is a year that has been bookended by two unimaginable tragedies, the Clutha at the end of last year and now this awful tragedy that unfolded here yesterday.
"But Glasgow is a resilient city, we saw last year and we have seen again in the last 24 hours the incredible spirit of the people of Glasgow and this city will pull together to support those who have been affected, not just in the days ahead but in the weeks and months to come.
"We are reminded today of that spirit of Glasgow, this is a city I am so deeply proud to call my home and I know I will be one of many whose thoughts and prayers particularly over the Christmas period are with all those who have been so tragically affected by what happened yesterday."
The first minister said that "like everyone else" she wanted to know what had caused "this dreadful incident" and stressed that police were "absolutely focused on completing that investigation as quickly as possible and giving people the answers they seek".
Church service
Earlier, Ms Sturgeon said flags would fly at half-mast on government buildings out of respect.
On Tuesday morning, a service of remembrance for victims of the crash was held at the Church of Scotland's St George's Tron Church, located yards from the crash scene.
Presbytery Clerk and former Moderator Very Rev Bill Hewitt told the service that "we feel for the pain of others in this city".
He added: "We understand something of the burden carried the hearts by those who have lost loved ones, who are concerned for those in hospital, for emergency workers who have been on the frontline in meeting human need and offering themselves."
Roman Catholic Archbishop Philip Tartaglia will say mass for the victims at St Andrew's Cathedral in Glasgow on Wednesday.
Police Scotland is expected to release details of the victims once formal identification has taken place.
The force said there appeared to be nothing "sinister" about the crash and said it was still carrying out investigations at the scene.
Signs flattened
It is known that the lorry struck a pedestrian outside the Gallery of Modern Art (Goma), then mounted the pavement and travelled hundreds of metres, hitting several others.It is known that the lorry struck a pedestrian outside the Gallery of Modern Art (Goma), then mounted the pavement and travelled hundreds of metres, hitting several others.
The lorry, operated by the city council, flattened street signs as it travelled along Queen Street and the side of George Square.The lorry, operated by the city council, flattened street signs as it travelled along Queen Street and the side of George Square.
It finally crashed into the Millennium Hotel, beside the entrance to Queen Street station in George Square. It finally crashed into the Millennium Hotel, beside the entrance to Queen Street station in George Square at 14:30 on Monday.
Eyewitnesses said the lorry driver had been "slumped over his wheel".Eyewitnesses said the lorry driver had been "slumped over his wheel".
Glasgow City Council confirmed that three employees were in the lorry before the crash.Glasgow City Council confirmed that three employees were in the lorry before the crash.
George Ieronymdis, owner of the Elia Greek Restaurant on George Square, said he had been told that some of the bin lorry's crew were seen jumping from the vehicle and holding their heads in their hands, looking devastated.George Ieronymdis, owner of the Elia Greek Restaurant on George Square, said he had been told that some of the bin lorry's crew were seen jumping from the vehicle and holding their heads in their hands, looking devastated.
Dozens of floral tributes have been placed near the scene and prayers are being held by the Church of Scotland.
Minister Alastair Duncan is leading the prayers at nearby St George's Tron Church.
'Simply devastating'
Church of Scotland Moderator John Chalmers said: "The news from the city centre of Glasgow just a few days before Christmas is simply devastating.
"For the second year in a row, Glaswegians will have to dig deep into their reserves of compassion and sympathy as they support the families of those who have been killed and injured today."
Roman Catholic Archbishop Philip Tartaglia will say mass for the victims at St Andrew's Cathedral in Glasgow on Wednesday.
Police Scotland said there appeared to be nothing "sinister" about the crash and are still carrying out investigations at the scene.
The first minister told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "The emergency services have been on the scene all night.
"The bodies of those who sadly lost their lives have now been taken away from the scene. There will be a process of formal identification still to go through today.
"Clearly it is the priority of all those involved to find out what caused this incident and give the families of those involved the answers they are seeking."
Glasgow spirit
Ms Sturgeon added: "I think all of us [watching] on our televisions were again struck by just how readily people run into a scene of potential danger to help those who have been injured, those who have been affected. There was a sense in the city last night of everybody rallying round.
"There is something quite incredible about the spirit in this city. Everybody knows it is a city with a big, big heart.
"This morning it is a city with a broken heart but it will get through this as it got through the Clutha tragedy."
Ms Sturgeon said flags would fly at half-mast on government buildings on Tuesday out of respect.
She called the crash "absolutely heartbreaking", while city council leader Gordon Matheson described it as a "terrible tragedy".
"Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected," he said.
Police Scotland have asked for anyone with photographs, videos or any type of mobile footage of the incident to contact them, using a dedicated email address.Police Scotland have asked for anyone with photographs, videos or any type of mobile footage of the incident to contact them, using a dedicated email address.
Anjan Luthra, who works nearby and was one of the first people on the scene, said he saw "three or four bodies" and other people running away from the lorry.
"I've never seen anything like that in my life, it was like a war scene. It literally was," he said.
A spokesman for the Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators said that vehicles, even large ones, can carry on for a considerable distance if there is an "unintended acceleration", which could be caused by a driver falling ill.A spokesman for the Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators said that vehicles, even large ones, can carry on for a considerable distance if there is an "unintended acceleration", which could be caused by a driver falling ill.
"Without speculating on this incident, there might be a number of causes for a vehicle to travel a considerable distance," he said."Without speculating on this incident, there might be a number of causes for a vehicle to travel a considerable distance," he said.
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