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divdiv class=story-body readability=107 span class=story-date#13; span class=date30 November 2013/span#13; span class=time-textLast updated at /spanspan class=time08:02 ET/span#13; #13; /span#13; #13; #13; #13; #13; #13; #13; !-- Embedding the video player --#13; !-- This is the embedded player component --#13; #13; #13; #13; #13; #13; #13; #13; !-- wwrights check --#13; !-- Empty country is used on test environment --#13; #13; #13; #13; div class=videoInStoryB readability=1#13; div id=emp-25165519-2533 class=emp#13; #13; #13; noscript#13; div class=warning readability=1#13; img class=holding src=http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/71445000/jpg/_71445510_71445509.jpg alt=Rescue workers cover the wreckage of a police helicopter which crashed onto the roof of the Clutha Vaults pub in Glasgow/pstrongPlease turn on JavaScript./strong Media requires JavaScript to play./p#13; /div#13; /noscript#13; #13; !-- embedding script --#13; #13; /div#13; !-- companion banner -- #13; #13; #13; #13; !-- END - companion banner --!-- caption --p class=captionScottish First Minister Alex Salmond said it was a black day for Glasgow/p#13; !-- END - caption --#13; #13; #13; #13; /div#13; !-- end of the embedded player component --#13; #13; !-- Player embedded -- #13; p class=introduction id=story_continues_1Three people have died after a police helicopter crashed into a busy pub in Glasgow, the BBC understands./p#13; pPolice Scotland have confirmed one death but said they expected the final number of fatalities would be higher. A rescue operation is continuing./p#13; pThe crash happened at The Clutha in Stockwell Street at 22:25 on Friday. /p#13; pThere were three people on board the helicopter - two officers and a civilian pilot. Thirty-two people have been taken to local hospitals./p#13; #13; pScotland's First Minister Alex Salmond told a press conference it was a black day for Scotland./p#13; pPrime Minister David Cameron paid tribute to the bravery of the ordinary Glaswegians who rushed to help./p#13; pChief Constable Sir Stephen House confirmed that one person had died and further fatalities were expected after the helicopter crashed on to the roof of the pub./p#13; pHe said they can't say definitively whether there are people still trapped within the pub, and added we are still in a search and recovery phase./p#13; div class=story-feature wide readability=8#13; a class=hidden href=#story_continues_2Continue reading the main story/a h2AT THE SCENE/h2#13; !-- pullout-items--#13; #13; !-- pullout-body--#13; pStrange to walk through Argyle St to the scene and see so many people doing their Christmas shopping just a few hundred yards from the scene./p#13; pThe King Street car park next to the scene is full of cars, and buses are passing just 100 yards from the cordon./p#13; pThere is no debris on our side of the cordon - it's hard to believe what has happened just a few yards away. /p#13; pWe can see the blue and green tarpaulins on top of the roof of the pub, but there is no activity on that roof./p#13; pOn our side of the cordons, a pack of around 40 journalists and photographers are taking statements from eyewitnesses and waiting for news. /p#13; #13; !-- pullout-links--#13; /div p id=story_continues_2Chief Constable House went on: This is a very difficult and sensitive operation. The scene is, as you will understand, a particularly challenging one. /p#13; pGiven the damage caused and the nature of the damage, it will take some time to complete the search of the building and to assess how we begin the investigation. /p#13; pClearly the safety of those conducting the search is of the highest importance./p#13; pMr Salmond said: This is a black day for Glasgow and Scotland but it is also St Andrew's Day and we can take pride in how we respond to adversity. /p#13; pThe response from our emergency services and citizens has been exemplary./p#13; pIt has been reported that about 120 people were in the pub at the time of the crash. Many were rescued or escaped but others were trapped by a collapse on the left-hand side of the building./p#13; pEmergency services have erected barriers around the scene and specialist rescue teams remain at the scene./p#13; ulli A large area of the city centre has been cordoned off/li#13; li A tarpaulin has been put up over roof of pub/li#13; li Injured have been taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Western Infirmary and the Victoria Infirmary/li#13; li Some of those who were in pub taken to a nearby Holiday Inn Express/li#13; li Police Scotland Casualty Bureau number is strong0800 092 0410 /strong- for those concerned about relatives/li#13; li Investigation into what happened is under way/li#13; li Air Accident Investigation Branch is in Glasgow/li#13; li Mass to be held at 13:00 in St Andrew's Cathedral in Glasgow for those involved in crash and emergency services involved in response/li#13; li Glasgow City Council has cancelled St Andrew's Day celebrations in George Square as a mark of respect./li#13; /ulpSpeaking from the press conference at the multi-agency command centre in Glasgow, Fire Scotland deputy chief officer Alex Clark said: Along with our emergency service colleagues, we responded very, very quickly and pulled out all the measures that we possibly could in order to rescue people who were affected by this incident./p#13; pI can assure you that until such time as there is an inevitable outcome we will undoubtedly remain on site and carry on our rescue activities in the best way that we possibly can./p#13; pGary Hardacre, who is leading the Scottish Ambulance Service response, said: All of our thoughts and condolences are with those that have been affected by this tragic incident./p#13; pWe have been working with our partners in the police and fire service to ensure a joined-up response, and provide the best possible care that we can for the people affected by this./p#13; #13; pWilliam Byrne, 45, from Coatbridge, who was in the pub when the helicopter came down, returned to the scene this morning./p#13; pThere was a loud bang. Then there was dust and the lights went out. It was surreal, he told BBC Scotland./p#13; p'We didn't know what had happened. At our side of the pub at least two people were trapped under the gantry. Myself and others lifted it up and managed to get them out. I spent some time with one injured man./p#13; pHe added: At our side of the pub I would say there were less than 10 people injured, mainly walking wounded, not seriously injured. One girl had clearly been hit on the head - she had a big bump./p#13; pThe other side of the pub took the brunt. Myself and my friends managed to get out without a scratch. Everyone helped everyone else to get out./p#13; !-- Embedding the video player --#13; !-- This is the embedded player component --#13; #13; #13; #13; #13; #13; #13; #13; !-- wwrights check --#13; !-- Empty country is used on test environment --#13; #13; #13; #13; div class=videoInStoryC readability=1#13; div id=emp-25163154-2534 class=emp#13; #13; #13; noscript#13; div class=warning readability=1#13; img class=holding src=http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/71443000/jpg/_71443789_jim2.jpg alt=Jim Murphy MP/pstrongPlease turn on JavaScript./strong Media requires JavaScript to play./p#13; /div#13; /noscript#13; #13; !-- embedding script --#13; #13; /div#13; !-- companion banner -- #13; #13; #13; #13; !-- END - companion banner --!-- caption --p class=captionJim Murphy MP tells the BBC that something horrific and serious happened/p#13; !-- END - caption --#13; #13; #13; #13; /div#13; !-- end of the embedded player component --#13; #13; !-- Player embedded -- pHelicopter operator Bond Air Services said it was working with the police and emergency services./p#13; pA statement added: Our thoughts are with those who have been affected by this tragic incident./p#13; pJim Murphy, the Labour MP for East Renfrewshire, was in the area at the time of the crash and said he ran into the pub to help before emergency services arrived./p#13; pHe told the BBC there was pandemonium as people tried to get out of the pub. /p#13; pIt was almost like slow motion, he said, adding: People just formed a bit of human chain, side by side with each other, to help pull injured people out./p#13; pThe shadow cabinet minister, who had blood on his shirt which he said was not his, described what he saw as a horrific scene. /p#13; pThe band who were playing in the pub at the time of the crash, Esperanza, have released a statement on their Facebook page./p#13; pBassist Jess wrote: Waking up and realising that it is all definitely horribly real. Despite the situation everyone was so helpful and caring of each other. /p#13; pThe police, ambulances, firefighters all did a stellar job and continue to do so today in extremely difficult conditions./p#13; #13; pEyewitness Fraser Gibson, 34, was inside the pub with his brother to see his former band, Esperanza./p#13; pMidway through their set it sounded like a giant explosion, he told BBC Scotland. /p#13; pPart of the room was covered in dust. We didn't know what had happened. We froze for a second; there was panic and then people trying to get out the door./p#13; pMr Gibson added: I would say there was maybe 120 people inside the pub. A lot of people managed to get out straight away, but it was hard to tell how many were actually trapped in the other half of the bar./p#13; p id=story_continues_3He said there had been no indication a helicopter had caused the devastation, adding: The roof had just totally collapsed. /p#13; pThere were shards of wood sticking out the top but nothing that said there had been a helicopter crash./p#13; pEddie Waltham, a former firefighter who had a friend inside the pub, told the BBC: A roof joist came down and hit him and pushed him towards the window which is at the left side of the left door./p#13; pHe added later: My own reaction was to run straight up to the pub./p#13; pIt was amazing to watch just how people were trying so hard to get into this building. /p#13; pJohn McGarrigle who said he feared his father had been in the pub at the time said: I've checked every hospital and there's no sign of him. I'm very anxious. /p#13; pI'm just going to stand here till I see casualties come out of the building./p#13; #13; pGordon Matheson, the leader of Glasgow City Council, said his heart went out to the families affected. /p#13; pHe also praised the response of ordinary people in the area before the emergency services arrived./p#13; pMr Matheson said: People who were in the pub, the people who were in the streets and who just helped out their fellow human beings who were out having a good time. /p#13; pIt's Glasgow at its best you know, if people are in need the spontaneous response is to go to their help. And I want to pay great tribute to that and I'm very proud as leader of the city that that was the reaction. It doesn't surprise me./p#13; #13; pPrime Minister David Cameron said: This is a tragic event and our deepest sympathies are with the families and friends who lost a loved one last night./p#13; pI want to thank the emergency services who worked tirelessly throughout the night and I also want pay tribute to the bravery of the ordinary Glaswegians who rushed to help./p#13; pWe have offered the Scottish government our support in any way we can and we are all wishing a speedy recovery to those who are injured./p#13; pLabour leader Ed Miliband described the crash as an unimaginable horror./p#13; pHe added: I know there will be lots of people worried about their loved ones who are unaccounted for and my thoughts are with them and also with the people of Glasgow who are an incredibly strong people, who showed, I think last night, in their reaction when the helicopter hit, a great bravery, a great courage, great calm in the midst of all this./p#13; pIn 2002, a href=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/1826661.stma police Eurocopter EC-135 came down in a field/a in Ayrshire. All three people on board survived./p#13; pIn 1990, a police sergeant was killed when a Bell Jet 206 helicopter crashed in bad weather at Newton Mearns in East Renfrewshire./p#13; div class=comment-introduction readability=-49#13; p class=introductionWere you in the area? Have you been affected? You can contact us using the form below./p#13; #13; /div#13; #13; #13; piSend your pictures and videos to byourpics@bbc.co.uk/b or text them to b61124/b (UK) or b+44 7624 800 100/b (International). 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