A man who gave his name as John was in the Park Inn Hotel on West George Street when the incident happened.

"I was in my room and I heard loud screams from downstairs," he said.

"I heard a woman and a man screaming for help, but I could not see from my window on the third floor but a lot of people were staring towards the hotel.

"I got worried and went to check what was going on. When I opened the lift it was all blood.

"I went down the stairs and the reception was full of blood."

Image source, SNS

Cameron White was in the area at the time and tells BBC Scotland: "We were going for a walk and we saw a whole load of police cars and ambulances, a whole load of commotion and we saw a whole load of armed policemen running up to the main entrance to the hotel.

"We didn't see any shots fired or anyone laying on the ground, but a serious incident happening and a whole load of police running around sealing off the area and telling everyone to get back."

Witness Jamie O'Neil, who owns a phone shop in Glasgow city centre, told the BBC News Channel: "We heard lots of sirens and saw more and more police officers arriving. They were walking about with machine guns.

"There seemed to be a lot of confusion about what had happened. One man told me he saw a man stab people and then he was shot by the police.

"In the last few weeks we’ve seen the police mobilised to different areas, whether it was the protests in George Square or last night in Kelvingrove Park.

"But this was on another level. We quickly realised it was something much more serious.

"In Glasgow we tend to run towards things rather than run away from them, but the police quickly took control of the area."

Linda Sinclair
BBC Scotland

The incident seemed to happen in the Park Inn Hotel on West George Street, which I understand is currently being used to house asylum seekers.

We have heard from the Scottish Police Federation that one police officer has been stabbed and we have unconfirmed reports that three people have died.

I have a friend who works at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary who told me they had prepared for six people coming into the hospital who had been stabbed.

There is a huge police presence here, with armed response and ambulances.

Statement from Assistant Chief Constable Steve Johnson: "We are continuing to deal with the incident on West George Street Glasgow and would ask people to avoid the area.

"However, I would like to reassure the public that this is a contained incident and that the wider public is not at risk. Armed police officers attended the incident and I can confirm that a male suspect was shot by an armed officer.

"I can also confirm that a police officer was injured while dealing with the incident and that officer is receiving treatment in hospital."

Image source, PA Media

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

He told the PA news agency: "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."

Mr Milroy said the man was one of the four taken away by medics and believed him to be a victim of an attack.

He added: "After that we saw commotion, ambulances further up and we saw armed police all running into the hotel next to the Society Room.

"We were still standing outside, after that the police all came down, the riot police and triage team told us to go back in and lock the door."

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has tweeted: "The reports from Glasgow City Centre are truly dreadful. My thoughts are with everyone involved. I am being updated as the situation becomes clearer. Please help the emergency services do their jobs by staying away from the area - and please don’t share unconfirmed information."

BBC reporter Linda Sinclair is at the scene and reports seeing people stretchered away from a building.

The incident appears to be centred around the Park Inn hotel.

Image source, PA Media

A police officer has been stabbed in the incident in Glasgow city centre, the Scottish Police Federation has said.

The Scottish Police Federation tweeted: "We appreciate families of police officers in Glasgow will be anxious to hear that a police officer has been stabbed.

"Please be aware the family of the officer has been notified and is being supported by the service."

Catriona Renton
BBC Scotland reporter

A major police incident is under way in West George Street in the centre of Glasgow.

It is understood three people were stabbed in the stairwell of a hotel.

All three are believed to have died.

It is understood that the suspect was shot by police. It is believed the suspect is dead

Armed police are dealing with a "serious incident" which has shut down part of Glasgow city centre.

There is a heavy police presence on West George Street with more than a dozen police vehicles at the scene.

Police Scotland have yet to confirm the nature of the incident, but a man was seen leaving a building with his hands up.

A statement from the force said the situation was "contained" and there was no danger to the general public.