Police in Scotland are investigating what caused a bin lorry to veer out of control in a packed city street in Glasgow, killing six people.
A further eight people were injured when the refuse truck mounted the pavement in Glasgow city centre before crashing into the side of a hotel.
Eyewitnesses described seeing bodies lying in the road after the accident, which happened as the city centre was crowded with Christmas shoppers.
The lorry appeared to strike pedestrians outside the Gallery of Modern Art before continuing to travel towards George Square, where it crashed into the side of the Millennium Hotel, which is next to Queen Street Station.
Superintendent Stewart Carle of Police Scotland said the lorry hit several pedestrians as it careered along the road.
Supt Carle said: "It's a road traffic accident, nothing more sinister.
"For now it does not look to be a criminal or deliberate act that has taken place here this afternoon, but we need to have time to investigate it".
He said that it appeared "at least" seven people had been seriously injured, but warned that "that number may rise".
The driver of the bin lorry has also been taken to hospital and is receiving treatment, the officer said.
In the wake of speculation that the driver had collapsed at the wheel of the lorry, Mr Carle said he could not comment on what he was being treated for.
He told how police "will be here now for many hours and throughout the night as we investigate the scene and eventually as we recover the dead".
"It is a road traffic collision with multiple fatalities, it's a terrible incident, but we don't believe there is anything at this juncture that is sinister about the accident.
"[At about] about 2.30pm a Glasgow City Council bin lorry was travelling north on Queen Street outside the Gallery of Modern Art when it was in a collision with a pedestrian.
"The bin lorry then has continued north on Queen Street, it would appear to have gone up on the footway and there have been a number of other pedestrians it has collided with."
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "My thoughts with everyone involved in dreadful George Square incident. If you are in city centre, please let your relatives know you are okay."
I'm being kept fully briefed on the major incident in Glasgow. My thoughts are with the families of those involved & the emergency services.
— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) December 22, 2014Emergency services, including six ambulances, are at the scene, along with the police and fire service.
Police have declared the scene a major incident and all roads around George Square have been closed.
They have set up a number for anyone who has concerns that their family and friends might be involved in today's incident: 01786 289070.
The tragedy comes barely a year after the Clutha Bar helicopter crash in the city.
Ten people died when a police helicopter crashed on to the roof of the pub on 29 November last year.
Sadly, six people have died as a result of the #GeorgeSquare major road incident. A further update will be issued in due course.
— Police Scotland (@policescotland) December 22, 2014
