By MARK MCLAUGHLIN

SCOTLAND’S rank and file officers have condemned the decision not to send armed officers to deal with a man who attacked two people and then died after slashing his own neck with knives in Glasgow city centre.

Chair of the the Scottish Police Federation (SPF), Andrea MacDonald said it was “deeply worrying” that no armed units were dispatched to West Nile Street on Thursday.

The 33-year-old man, who has not been named, died in hospital soon after the incident with passers-by reporting seeing the man, who had an axe under his arm, injuring himself in the neck with two craft knives.

It has emerged that he had attacked a man near Drury Street shortly before, and assaulted a council community warden who tried to intervene.

Glasgow Times:

The incident has been referred to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc), who will look at the officers’ response.  

But Ms MacDonald said: “Had the assailant been intent on harming large numbers of the public, he could have done so with impunity and the police would have been largely powerless to stop him.

“Whilst not detracting in any way from the courage of the police officers who attended, the fact no armed officers were dispatched to a man attacking others with knives and an axe should be deeply worrying.

“Glasgow is a city with an almost permanent armed police presence, but they were not dispatched and they did not attend.

“This lays bare the myth that the service adequately risk-assesses incidents prior to deploying resources and that as a service we are capable of protecting the public from spontaneous incidents of extreme violence.”

Eyewitnesses who saw the disturbing incident said “there was a lot of blood” and reported seeing police officers spray a substance in to the man’s face.

The man is believed to have turned two blades on himself while passers-by watched on in horror. He was then restrained. One onlooker said he was also carrying an axe, which was put into a black bag by police.

Police Scotland said the man started to injure himself when officers arrived and that they used Pava incapacitant spray to disarm him.

He was rushed to Glasgow Royal Infirmary but died soon after.

The two victims were also taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary, where the subject of the initial attack is said to be in a stable condition with arm and shoulder injuries.

The incident was not terror- related, but police said the initial attack was targeted and they are appealing for witnesses to contact them. Detective Superintendent Laura Thomson said: “From our inquiries so far, we know that the initial attack was targeted.

“It was not random, it was planned and we are not looking for anyone else in connection with it.

“However, although we have had a great response from members of the public who were the re at the time, we need people to come forward with any information that may assist the investigation.

“Officers, including specialist forensic teams, are still at the scene carrying out inquiries and checking CCTV.

“Additional officers are in the city centre to provide public reassurance.