Glasgow Airport

[The Philosopher]

All flights in and out of Glasgow suspended cancelled after bomb goes off in Terminal One.

[endure]

It wasn't a bomb, it was a car, set alight, driven towards the main terminal building. Full details available on news.bbc.co.uk

[Tywais]

Also here > Canada.com

"Car rams into Glasgow airport terminal

Alistair Bell, Reuters

Published: Saturday, June 30, 2007

GLASGOW -- A four-wheel-drive vehicle raced across a central reservation and rammed into the front doors of Glasgow airport's main terminal on Saturday before exploding in flames, Glasgow police and witnesses said."

And here > SanDiego.com

[TBWG]

Hi All

If you are flying to Glasgow airport ...check BBC website re above.

Blazing car crashes into airport

Man being arrested. Pic by Michael McRanor

Man 'tackled driver'

A car which was on fire has been driven at the main terminal building at Glasgow Airport.

Eyewitnesses have described a Jeep Cherokee being driven at speed towards the building with flames coming out from underneath.

They have also described seeing two Asian men, one of whom was on fire, who had been in the car.

Strathclyde Police said two people had been arrested and detained in connection with the incident.

The airport has been evacuated and all flights suspended following the incident at 1515 BST.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has chaired a meeting of Cobra - the emergency committee.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said the national terrorism threat level had been raised to its highest level of "critical", meaning an attack was expected "imminently".

A&E closed

First Minister Alex Salmond has activated emergency procedures.

The accident and emergency department of the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley has been closed.

A spokesman for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said this was due to the police investigation into the events at the airport.

It was believed one of the suspects was being treated at the hospital.

There was an Asian guy who was pulled out of the car by two police officers

Richard Gray

Emergency patients are being taken to Glasgow A&E departments at the Southern General Hospital and Western Infirmary.

However, the rest of the Royal Alexandra Hospital, is operating as normal.

The incident comes a day after two cars were found containing explosives in central London.

The cars contained petrol, gas cylinders and nails but the devices did not detonate.

One eyewitness at Glasgow Airport said: "I heard the sound of a car's wheels spinning and smoke coming out.

"I saw a Jeep Cherokee apparently as if it was trying to get right through the doors into the terminal building.

"There were flames coming out from underneath then some men appeared from in amongst the flames.

"The police ran over and the people started fighting with the police. I then heard what sounded like an explosion."

Molotov cocktails

Eye-witness Richard Gray told BBC News 24: "A green Jeep was in the middle of the doorway burning.

"There was an Asian guy who was pulled out of the car by two police officers, who he was trying to fight off. They've got him on the ground.

"The car didn't actually explode. There were a few pops and bangs which presumably was the petrol."

Firemen at airport

Dozens of emergency personnel attended the scene

Stephen Clarkson said he helped police restrain one of the men.

"I managed to knock the fellow to the ground," he said.

"By this time there were four policemen who got on top of him and restrained him.

"His clothes had partially burned from his body. His hair was on fire.

"His whole body was on fire."

Thomas Conroy, a maintenance worker at the airport believes the men deliberately tried to set the car on fire.

"It looked like they had Molotov cocktails with them," he said.

"They sort of burst them round about the flames to make sure the car would go up big style.

"Within minutes it was up and the terminal caught as well."

TRAVEL CHAOS

Glasgow Airport has been closed until further notice

All roads around the airport are cordoned off

A number of flights bound for Glasgow have been diverted to Prestwick

Prestwick Airport was operating as normal

Edinburgh Airport is closed to vehicles, though flights are operating as normal

Airport closed

Dr Rak Nandwani was at the airport building to pick up relatives when he saw a plume of black smoke.

He said: "The whole place has come to a standstill, the terminal building has been evacuated. I have spoken to my relatives and they have been moved to outside the building.

"They were told they could not pick their baggage up from the baggage collection area.

"There must be about 50 police cars at the airport. Me and my son, along with everyone else, have been moved to the car rental area."

Taxi driver Ian Crosby said: "This was no accident. This was a deliberate attack on Glasgow Airport."

The car ablaze at Glasgow Airport

Witnesses said the car was driven at the building deliberately

The reaction of members of the public was not to help the men in the car, but to restrain them, he told the BBC.

Mr Crosby, who said he served in Northern Ireland, told how he shepherded people away from the scene in case of a secondary explosion or a nail-bomb.

Two men, one of whom was reported to be badly burned, were seen being led away in handcuffs.

Michael McRanor from Glasgow, photographed the arrest of one of the men.

A number of people are stuck on aeroplanes and on the airport strip while others have been told they might not be able to leave the airport complex until at least 2100 BST.

Edinburgh Airport has been closed to vehicles which are being turned away on approach however, flights are operating as normal.

Take care

TBWG

[leisurely]

I was having a conversation with a friend yesterday. We leave for London next week and plan to spend a week or so in the capital. He had planned the same but decided not to because of the two cars found with explosives. I poopooed this and laughed. It's not quite as funny now, I've just read on the BBC website that the UK is on critical alert and more explosives/terrorist attacks are likely. Should I replan our holiday or carry on? Carry on I think, the girls are very excited at the thought of the science museum and natural history and we've booked tickets for Mary Poppins.......................

Scary times we live in. Maybe we'll just stay put in BKK?

[eek]

Two cars bombs in London also the day before yesterday.

I personally wouldnt cancel a trip if I were going there, but then again I dont have a family and children to worry about. Noone can make that decision but you leisurely. Go with your gut instincts and best of luck either way.

I was in London when the the bomb attacks were on the tube and bus (2 year ago now i believe). When the first one was set off I was on my way to work and evacuated off a tube (a few stations up from me was the one that exploded). Had I had set out around,i think, 30 mins earlier, things could have been different for me. After the initial shock, London just picked itself up and carried on as normal, myself included. I can tell you though, tensions were high on the tube, everyones eyes darting about and staring at peoples bags and shopping. You could hear a sharp intake of breath at every bump or justle on the tube. Apprehensive times.

[Tywais]

Topics merged.

[Aussietraveller]

It is now being reported (CNN) that the London and Glasgow incidents are linked.

The Vehicle in Glasgow did contain gas cannisters of some sort, and one of the vehicles occupants( the one who was burned) also was found to have another "device" on his person.

[Spit the Dog]

Thankfully there were no fatalities at Glasgow Airport. I flew out of Glasgow last Wednesday and as usual the airport seemed peaceful and quiet compared to the likes of Heathrow Airport. It's was more than likely seen as an easy target for the terrorists.

It's the start or the school holidays in Scotland so at the time I'd imagine that the airport was full of families going on holiday. I'd just hope that things can get back to normal as soon as possible.

[think_too_mut]

Panic rubbish as last August with "toilet bomb" terrorists. This time around they are even bigger morons than anyone could imagine.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/07/02/te...diocy_outbreak/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/06/29/mo...iscuits_please/