Hospital in Kilmarnock locked down due to a ‘serious incident’ in its grounds
Hospital in Kilmarnock is locked down as witnesses describe ‘staff members stabbed’ – with armed police on the scene but ‘very serious incident’ is NOT believed to be terror-related
- Police Scotland dealing with three ‘serious incidents’ across Kilmarnock
- University Hospital Crosshouse placed under lockdown following a stabbing
- Forensic officers spotted collecting evidence at hospital late into the night
- Armed police guarding hospital and several ambulances diverted to the scene
- 20 minutes afterwards another stabbing reported on Portland Street in the town
- Officers also attended a ‘serious road crash’ on nearby A76 30 minutes after
Police in Scotland were last night dealing with three serious incidents across Kilmarnock following a stabbing at the town’s hospital.
University Hospital Crosshouse was placed under lockdown by armed police after at least one person was stabbed in its grounds.
Dozens of police cars and emergency vehicles swarmed the building on the town’s outskirts after being called to a ‘serious incident’ at 7.45pm.
Reports on social media suggest that two people, one a nurse, have been stabbed. Forensic officers are now at the scene.
Minutes later officers rushed to another incident underneath a viaduct on Portland Street in the centre of Kilmarnock. This incident reportedly involved a stabbing.
Harrowing footage from the scene shows an emergency worker desperately trying to revive someone in the road.
Then at around 8.30pm police also attended a ‘serious road crash’ on the A76 to the south of Kilmarnock.
It is unclear if the incidents are connected, however they are not being treated as ‘terrorist-related’.
One local journalist, Alex Tiffin, said on Twitter that he had been told by a police source that the events in Kilmarnock were linked to a ‘domestic incident’.
Police are at the scene today while a number of roads remain closed this morning.
University Hospital Crosshouse in Kilmarnock has been placed under lockdown after two people were reportedly stabbed in its grounds. Pictured: Forensic officers were at the scene late into the night
Dozens of police cars and ambulances from other hospitals rushed to the scene following reports of a nurse being stabbed in the grounds of the hospital
Minutes later officers rush to another incident underneath a viaduct on Portland Street in the centre of the town. This incident reportedly involved a stabbing
NHS Ayrshire and Arran said that ambulances had been diverted to University Hospital Ayr.
One eye witness at the hospital told the Daily Record: ‘I was picking someone up when a member of medical staff was stabbed. The whole place is on lockdown.
‘Armed police are there and they’re sending everyone away from the area.’
Another witness close to the scene told Ayrshire Live: ‘There are between 10 and 15 police vans sitting on the edge of the Moorfield Estate which is about half-a-mile away from the hospital.
‘It looks like an officer is standing guard outside the A&E department at the hospital.
‘I’ve lived round here for a while and never seen anything like this.’
In an update on the unfolding situation, Police Scotland said: ‘Currently dealing with 3 potentially linked incidents in the Kilmarnock area.
Dozens of police cars and emergency vehicles have surrounded University Hospital Crosshouse near Kilmarnock after being called to a ‘serious incident’
Portland Street in the centre of Kilmarnock remains closed off. Harrowing footage circulating online shows an emergency worker attempting to resuscitate someone in the road
It is unclear if the incidents are connected, however they are not being treated as ‘terrorist-related’
‘The first occurred around 7.45pm outside Crosshouse Hospital, the second around 20 minutes later on Portland Street, and the third, a serious road crash, on the A76, around 8.30pm.
‘Enquiries into these incidents are at an early stage and these areas have been cordoned off at this time. There is no cause for concern for the wider community.’
Scotland’s Justice Minister Humza Yousaf has tweet about the incident, urging people to avoid the area.
He said: ‘Please listen to Police instructions and avoid both Crosshouse Hospital & Portland St in Kilmarnock. Police are attending a v serious incident.’
Armed police have been patrolling the grounds of the hospital, while forensic officers work through the night to collect evidence from the scene.
Crawford McGuffie, NHS Ayrshire and Arran medical director, said: ‘NHS Ayrshire and Arran is aware of an incident in the grounds of University Hospital Crosshouse.
‘As a result, the hospital has been under lockdown, and ambulances diverted to University Hospital Ayr.
Reports on social media suggest there may have been a stabbing
‘We are assisting Police Scotland with their investigations, and to ensure the safety of staff, patients and visitors.
‘As this is a Police Scotland incident, we are unable to comment any further at this time.’
Police urged people to avoid the area.
Ayrshire Police tweeted: ‘Officers in Kilmarnock are currently dealing with two serious incidents in the town at this time, one at Crosshouse Hospital and a second in Portland Street.
‘These areas are cordoned off and the public are asked to avoid them at this time.’
The incident comes as staff at the hospital continue to treat patients, including people with covid-19, during the pandemic.
In January, an A&E doctor warned staff workloads had doubled as they battle the effects of the virus. That same month, Nicola Sturgeon said hospitals in Ayrshire and Arran were at 96 per cent capacity as she announced a new lockdown.
The medic had said: ‘Staff are probably having to do more work than they normally do, and that’s translated throughout the entire hospital.’
