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London - Several people were reported killed and injured in Glasgow on Monday when a lorry ploughed into Christmas shoppers in the city centre in an apparent accident.
The rubbish truck hit a pedestrian outside the Gallery of Modern Art and then several more over a distance of around 300m, a police spokesperson said.
"The bin lorry just lost control. It went along the pavement, knocking everyone like pinballs," Melanie Greig, an eyewitness, told Sky News.
"People were trying to run out of the way but when something was coming out behind them like that, how can they run out of the way?" she said. "It was just horrific."
The incident took place the day after a driver in France ploughed into pedestrians, injuring 11 and shouting "Allahu Akbar", meaning God is greatest in Arabic.
But a Scottish police spokesperson insisted there was nothing "sinister" about the Glasgow incident.
"It is a road traffic collision with multiple fatalities," the spokesperson said. "It does not look to be a criminal or deliberate attack."
He said the driver was receiving treatment in hospital. Some British media reported that he may have suffered a heart attack.
The accident happened on Queen Street near George Square - the Scottish city's main shopping hub - where shoppers filled the streets just three days before Christmas.
Prime Minister David Cameron said he was being briefed about the "major incident" and Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: "My thoughts with everyone involved in dreadful George Square incident".
