Police constable David Whyte, 42, was in a stable condition last night. The other injured men, aged 17, 18, 20, 38 and 53, were also being treated in hospital.

The incident happened at the 91-room Park Inn by Radisson Glasgow City Centrecorr on West George Street, which campaign group Positive Action In Housing said was housing asylum seekers during the coronavirus lockdown.

Glasgow stabbings: Everything we know so far as suspect shot dead by police

A man called John, who was staying at the hotel with his mother, came down from the third floor to find the lift “covered in blood” and two people had been stabbed.

He said “I saw a receptionist covered in blood. He had been stabbed and was lying behind the desk, gasping for air.

“There was blood all over the reception area.

“Another receptionist, also male, had also been stabbed and was on the hotel steps fighting for his life.

Police attend the scene of a fatal stabbing incident at the Park Inn Hotel in central Glasgow on June 26, 2020.

“There has been stabbing going on, but I don’t know the cause.”

Ben Fitzpatrick, 17, was out with his dad to get something to eat at lunchtime when they saw the horror attack unfold around 1pm.

He saw around 60 armed police swooped on the hotel, with around nine ambulances present.

Ben, from Maryhill in Glasgow, said: “I saw a man come out of the hotel covered in blood. It looked like people fighting amongst themselves.

Police officers push back a cordon as they attend the scene of a fatal stabbing incident at the Park Inn Hotel in central Glasgo

“I’ve seen around 60 armed officers and there were around nine ambulances earlier.

“I saw someone sitting on a stairwell covered in blood, without an eye. I just asked a police officer ‘did someone lose an eye’, and they said ‘yes’.

“I saw two or three stretchers being wheeled out of the hotel.

“It’s mental. The police were shouting like mad.”

There is a heavy police presence on West George Street with more than a dozen police vehicles in attendance. Pic:L JATV_scotland/PA Wire

Craig Milroy, who saw the aftermath of the incident from a nearby office building, said he had watched four people taken away in ambulances.

He said: “I saw a man lying on the ground, of African descent, with no shoes on.

“He was on the ground with someone holding his side – I don’t know if it was a bullet wound, a stab wound, or what it was.

“After that, we saw commotion, ambulances further up and we saw armed police all running into the hotel.”

Assistant chief constable Steve Johnson, executive lead policing west for Police Scotland, said officers had reached the scene within two minutes of the alarm being raised at 12:50pm yesterday.Fri

He said armed officers arrived shortly afterwards and “the incident was quickly contained”. “A man was shot by armed police and has subsequently died,” he said.

Mr Johnson said the injured officer’s family was being supported. He said: “Our thoughts are with the families of those who were injured, including our colleague, the officer who was injured.

“This incident is not being treated as terrorism.

“Our investigation is continuing into the circumstances.

“There is no wider risk to the public. However, the street remains closed and people should avoid the area.

“As would be the case in any police discharge of firearms involving a fatality, the Crown Office has instructed the Police Investigations & Review Commissioner to investigate.”

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the “serious, but rare” incident was “another reminder of the courage and professionalism of our police officers who are willing to run towards danger in order to protect the lives of others”.

She said the swift police response “undoubtedly ensured that a very, very serious incident didn’t become much worse”.

Ms Sturgeon said: “First and foremost, my thoughts are with all those people who have been caught up in this terrible incident, particularly the six injured people taken to hospital for treatment, as well as residents and staff at the hotel.

“I also want to thank all of those police officers whose quick and decisive actions contained the incident – one of whom was among those taken to hospital – as well as the work of the other emergency services.

“Clearly there is already much speculation around this incident, which remains under investigation.

“I would urge everyone to avoid such speculation, to not share potentially harmful or upsetting material on social media and to follow police advice while investigations are underway.”Tom Flanagan

Kartunnen, from the Radisson Hotel Group, said: “We are deeply saddened by the tragic event that happened today on West George Street in Glasgow.

“During the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the hotel has been occupied for temporary housing.

“We are working with the hotel owner and all the relevant local authorities, including Police Scotland, to support the investigation.”

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Man shot dead by police as six injured in Glasgow stabbings