Glasgow bin lorry crash - as it happened

• At least six people have died, eight injured after bin lorry crashes into group of pedestrians on George Square
• Police were called at around 2.30pm to the crash on the busy square in the centre of town
• Lorry out of control for 300 metres, mounted pavement "at 70mph"
• Hit pedestrian near Gallery of Modern Art, smashed into hotel next to Queen Street railway station
• Witness accounts describe lorry knocking people, reportedly including baby in buggy, down "like pinballs"
• Anyone with concerns for relatives can call 01786 289070, police call on shoppers to contact relatives to let them know they are safe

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23.20 That is all from our live blog for this evening, please check the news page for any further updates.

23:05 It's been a busy, if harrowing day for the new First Minister.

23:00 Police have said that they will be releasing no further details about the tragedy tonight.

21:30 A spokesman for the Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators has told the Press Association 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 - and perhaps going into a spasm - with their foot on the accelerator, or by someone inadvertently pressing the accelerator rather than the brake.

The man, who asked not to be named, said: "Without speculating on this incident, there might be a number of causes for a vehicle to travel a considerable distance.

"If there is no external influence on the steering direction of the vehicle, then it will continue in a straight line.

"An external influence might be a driver applying steering, or the wheels coming into contact with something like a kerb.

"Regarding the distance travelled, one would expect a vehicle to slow if the driver's foot had been removed from the accelerator, due to engine braking. And of course if the brake were applied one would expect it to slow."

The spokesman said that in the eventuality of a brake failure a driver can also slow a vehicle by changing down through the gears.

He added: "But there are air brakes on those (bin lorries) and vehicles are fitted with a fail-safe mechanism. In air-brake system failures, brakes will come on automatically.

"Had there been a failure in the air brake system the air brakes should automatically apply, but if it has carried on all this distance that would not appear to have been a problem in this case.

"So gravity and engine braking would slow it down over a relatively short distance, if acceleration was not applied. And obviously brakes being applied should slow it down over a relatively short distance."

20:41 Moderator of the General Assembly, Rt Rev 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.

"I am sure that in these circumstances the churches and faith communities of Glasgow will do all that they can to bring support and comfort to those caught up in this tragedy and that all round Scotland and beyond; Glasgow will be remembered in the prayers of the people."

20:40 Police are appealing to members of the public who have photographs, videos or any type of mobile footage of the incident to send it to the dedicated email address which is: georgesquareincident@scotland.pnn.police.uk.

20:10 The First Minister has been briefed on the accident at Govan police station in Glasgow.

20:09 Eight people are now confirmed to have been injured.

19.49 The Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, says his "heart goes out" to the victims of the crash.

19.06 We've created a map of the accident.

18:57 Police have said that it's still not clear how many people have been injured. But it is likely to be "no more than 10". The driver is being treated in hospital too, according to reports.

18.35 The seven seriously injured are being treated at three hospital across Glasgow, ITV News reports. They report that emergency services say they expect number of fatalities to rise. Many reports are also pointing to the fact that George Square was hosting a carnival, including a fairground and ice-rink.

18:25 BBC News at Six just reported that Glasgow Council offered to turn off the Christmas lights as a mark of respect. But police asked for them to be kept on because it was helping the investigation.

18:15 A temporary taxi rank has been set up in Glasgow.

18:05 It's not clear yet who the deceased are, or how old they are. We await the promised further update from Police Scotland later for more details.

17:55 As well as reports of a baby in buggy being hit, a local shop owner told Sky News that the lorry narrowly missed a mother and baby.

17:47 Police Scotland have now confirmed that six people have died.

17:43 Another picture from the scene:

17:39

Police Scotland Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Mawson, local policing commander for the west, told the Press Association:

"Investigations continue into the circumstances of the tragic incident in George Square today. While those investigations are continuing, we can confirm that this is not a terrorism-related incident."

17:34 The Mirror has a quote from comedian Janey Godley (whose tweets we quoted at 15:40) describing the scene as "like something out of a horror movie".

She said: "It was like something out of a horror movie. The traffic poles in Queen Street were bent like straws as they had been run over by vehicles. I heard there was a taxi involved as well as the bin lorry and when I reached the scene I couldn't see the bin lorry.

"I saw one person on the ground being given CPR in Queen Street and then another two. It was really awful and you could hear the screams above the sirens."

17:32 A member of the public recorded a video of the immediate aftermath of the crash.

17:11 Cllr Matheson's full statement: "This is a terrible tragedy and our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected, particularly the families of those who have lost their lives.

"My priority now is to do what we can to support everyone involved and to give every assistance to the police and other emergency services as they investigate this incident and care for those who are injured."

17:10 Eyewitnesses have been telling Sky News that the out-of-control lorry was travelling as fast as 70mph.

17:08 Glasgow City Council's Twitter feed has tweeted a message from leader Gordon Matheson. The bin lorry belongs to the council.

17:04 Superintendent Stewart Carle of Police Scotland has told the Press Association that the lorry hit several pedestrians as it careered along the road.

He said: "I can't confirm how many fatalities there have been because it is over a number of sites.

"It's a road traffic accident, nothing more sinister.

"For now it does not look to be a criminal or deliberate act that has taken place here this afternoon, but we need to have time to investigate it."

He said that it appeared "at least" seven people had been seriously injured but warned that "that number may rise"

The driver of the bin lorry has also been taken to hospital and is receiving treatment, the officer said.

But in the wake of speculation that the driver had collapsed at the wheel of the lorry, Mr Carle said he could not comment on what he was being treated for.

He told how police "will be here now for many hours and throughout the night as we investigate the scene and eventually as we recover the dead".

Mr Carle said: "It's difficult for all the emergency services but particularly for those people who have been in Glasgow today shopping and getting ready for Christmas. There will be a lot of distressed people and certainly the city will need to come round those people that have been traumatised by the incident.

"But our officers, the ambulance officers, the fire officers, the city council officers they are all working together as quickly as possible to bring the scene to a conclusion."

He stated: "It is a road traffic collision with multiple fatalities, it's a terrible incident, but we don't believe there is anything at this juncture that is sinister about the accident.

"We have the road closed off from Ingram Street and Queen Street to George Square. We are currently starting a joint investigation with the criminal investigation department as to what has happened here this afternoon."

Mr Carle said that at "about 2.30pm a Glasgow City Council bin lorry was travelling north on Queen Street outside the Gallery of Modern Art when it was in a collision with a pedestrian".

"The bin lorry then has continued north on Queen Street, it would appear to have gone up on the footway and there have been a number of other pedestrians it has collided with."

17:02 Eyewitnesses are telling Sky News that some people were thrown as far as 15 metres after being hit by the lorry, which belongs to Glasgow Council. They say it was travelling at high speed.

17:00 Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael said: "I share Scotland's deep shock at the horrible events in Glasgow this afternoon.

"On the eve of the festive period, these are unimaginable scenes in one of the busiest parts of our largest city.

"My thoughts are with the bereaved, the emergency services dealing with the aftermath and everyone affected by this terrible incident."

16:58 The former First Minister, Alex Salmond has tweeted about the tragedy.

16:52 Reece Miller, 16, a student from Motherwell, who was Christmas shopping, told Auslan Cramb, our Scottish Correspondent: "I'm traumatised. We were having lunch on the corner of the square when we heard a loud bang. The building we were in was shaking.

"I looked through the window. We saw that a lorry had crashed into the side of the building. I think it hit a car and then a number of shoppers. We went out and saw lots of bodies lying on the floor.

“At the scene there was a woman lying on the floor, covered by a blanket. Her family were leaning over her grieving."

16:51 Nicola Sturgeon tweets:

16:49 Miss Davidson points out that the area of the crash was the beating heart of the city, points out that Glasgow is second only to London in terms of its attractiveness as shopping destination.

16:45 Ruth Davidson, Scottish Conservative leader, told Sky News just now that she was out shopping in Glasgow. She added that people were stopping traffic and giving first aid before the eemrgency services. "This is a city where if you see someone in trouble, you put your arm around them," she added.

16:44 Sarah Brown, wife of former Prime Minister Gordon, tweets her condolences.

16:42 Anjen Luthra, an eyewitness, says that members of the public rushed to the aid of the injured, and attempted to administer first aid, before emergency services arrived.

16:38 Updates from Police Scotland. Anyone worried about their relatives can call the dedicated Police Scotland number, 01786 289070.

16:35 First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has tweeted her condolences and urged shoppers in the centre of Glasgow to let their loved ones know they are OK.

16:33 Police say that the lorry travelled 300 yards along the pavement, Sky News reports.

16:32 The Millenium Hotel has been evacuated, while a nearby pub has been cleared so that loved ones of the injured have somewhere to go. A spokesman for the hotel told Sky News that no guests had been injured, but that there were fears that gas pipes had been damaged. Hence the evacuation.

16:31 Sky News reports that at least six have lost their lives, at least seven further injured.

16:30 This cabbie has offered anyone affected who can't get to hospital or home a free ride

16:27 The Prime Minister is being kept "fully briefed" on the accident.

16:25 As Auslan, Jim Murphy and others have pointed out, this accident comes just over a year after a police helicopter crashed into the Clutha Vaults bar in the centre of Glasgow, killing all three on board the aircraft and seven customers.

16:21 Here's the video from Sky News of Melanie Greig, an eyewitness, who says she saw people being "knocked down like pinballs". She says that a baby in a buggy and two litte children were among the casualties.

16:14 Another witness, Lewis Irvine, a 17-year-old student, has told Auslan that he saw the lorry "swerving along the road" and hit "at least half a dozen people" before going into the hotel. Lewis said he could see the driver at the wheel and it "looked like he was having a fit or something".

16:12 Police Scotland have confirmed that the driver of the bin lorry had been treated in hospital, Auslan reports. But the police would not whether he was hurt in the crash or had fallen ill before the incident.

16:09 Findlay Mair, 23, a journalist who witnessed the crash, has told Auslan that he was helping to prepare for a photo-shoot in the crowded square when he heard a “huge bang followed by lots of screaming”.

"The screaming kept of going," Mr Mair adds, and "suddenly it was just chaos".

Mr Mair added: "Some people were running towards the scene, others were just standing stock still, in shock.

"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.

"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.”

16:06 Auslan Cramb, our Scottish Correspondent, writes: "The lorry is thought to have travelled around 150 yards along the pavement before hitting the hotel and coming to rest.

"It is understood to have hit one pedestrian near the Gallery of Modern Art before striking a group of shoppers waiting to cross the road outside Queen Street Station.

"Some people said they managed to jump out of the way of the vehicle as it came towards them."

16:05 Politicians have been tweeting their condolences to the injured. Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, said that "my thoughts are with all those affected by this horrific accident".

15:58 As Auslan reported earlier (15:47), one of the casualties is thought to be a baby who was in a buggy.

15:57 Mr Murphy was doing his Christmas shopping close to where the accident happened.

He told the Glasgow Evening Times: "I walked across George Square about an hour ago. I'm just hearing what people are saying, obviously it has been a major incident with very serious casualties. Multiple emergency services are on the scene. It is just awful.

"They can't be in better hands and all of the emergency services are on the scene.

"To be standing here in the Christmas drizzle, there is a very sombre mood. Just a short while ago everyone had a smile on their face."

15:56 Peter Adam Smith has taken a Vine of the scene.

15:54 Nigel Farage tweets:

15:53 A map of the area where the accident happened:

15:52 Duncan Bannatyne has also taken to Twitter following the crash.

15:47 Auslan Cramb, our Scottish Correspondent, writes: "Bystanders reported seeing bodies lying on the street on one of the busiest shopping days of the year. A triage centre was set up on the square to treat the injured.

"George Smith, a local restaurateur, said he had heard rumours that the driver may have fallen ill and that the bin lorry may have hit another vehicle.

"It was reported to have gone through a set of traffic lights before crashing into shoppers.

"The incident happened just after 2.30pm in one of the busiest city centre areas in Scotland. The square, which has now been closed by the emergency services, plays host to a fair at this time of year and Queen Street Station, beside the crash scene, brings thousands of shoppers to Glasgow every day.

"Melanie Greig, a shopper, 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, it just continued on the pavement, the only way it stopped was hitting the building. There were noises, bangs and screams. It was a horrific thing, just horrible.""

15:45 New Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy has tweeted about the crash. His tweet was retweeted by Ed Miliband.

15:40 Comedian Janey Godley witnessed the immeidate aftermath of the crash.

15:38 The Press Association writes: "Restaurant owner George Smith told the BBC he had heard that the bin lorry driver had suffered a heart attack and the vehicle had careered along the street before hitting the pedestrians outside the Millennium Hotel.

"He said that the emergency services were on the scene within minutes, adding: "It's really, really sad."

15:37 Another shot of the scene.

15:33 One witness, Brett Molloy, has tweeted seeing bodies in the road and "traffic lights down".

15:30 Glasgow city centre was packed with shoppers at the time of the crash. Many witnesses have tweeted about it and taken picture of the scene on their smartphones.

15:14 Hello, welcome to the Telegraph's live blog, which will supply updates after a bin lorry mounted the pavement on George Square in Glasgow on Monday afternoon.

Early detais are sketchy, but there are reports of several casualties and six people are feared dead.

You can read our initial news story here.