Police officer injured in Glasgow stabbing speaks out, as suspect named as Badreddin Abedlla Adam from Sudan
‘The swift actions of colleagues saved lives and prevented a far more serious incident,’ says 42-year-old
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A police constable who was injured in a knife attack at a Glasgow hotel has praised his colleagues for “putting themselves in harm’s way” to save lives.
Armed officers shot the suspected attacker dead shortly after the assault at a building that was housing asylum-seekers during the coronavirus pandemic. The man has since been identified by police as Badreddin Abedlla Adam – a 28-year-old from Sudan who had made himself known to the Home Office earlier this year.
The suspect stabbed six people at the Park Inn Hotel in the city’s West George Street on Friday. On Saturday another person at the hotel claimed the suspect had told people there that “I will attack” because “they hate me”.
Constable David Whyte is now in stable condition in hospital. The five others who were injured – three asylum seekers and two members of staff, aged 17 to 53 – also remain in hospital, one in a critical but stable condition, the others in a stable condition.
PC Whyte said he would never forget the scene he and colleagues were confronted with.
In a statement posted on Twitter by Police Scotland, he said: “As the first responders on scene, myself and my colleague did what all police officers are trained for, to save lives.”
He thanked his colleagues who “put themselves in harm’s way to contain this incident and assist with the vital treatment given to myself and others at the scene by other emergency services”.
He said: “Despite suffering serious injuries myself, I know that the swift actions of colleagues saved lives and prevented a far more serious incident.
“I would like to thank the medical staff at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital for their outstanding care in the hours following this incident.
“Finally, I would like to thank the public for all their kind messages of support and for the good wishes from all at Police Scotland. It means a lot and has brought both myself and my family great comfort at this difficult time.”
PC Whyte has been hailed by Police Scotland chief constable Iain Livingstone for his “bravery, selflessness and commitment to protecting the public”.
A man who said he knew the attacker told ITV: “He said, ‘I will attack’, so everyone should take it seriously.
“I told him ‘No, there’s no need to attack’ and he said, ‘They hate me, I hate them, they are against me’.
“I reported him to the hotel reception and then the next day, yesterday morning, the housing manager talked to me and I said to him everything he [the attacker] said to me. And in the afternoon, it happened.”
First minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: “My thoughts today remain with Constable Whyte – whose bravery we are all deeply grateful for – and the other people who sustained injuries in yesterday’s terrible incident. I wish them all a full and speedy recovery.”
Police Scotland, who are not treating the attack as terrorism, have launched an appeal for witnesses.
In a statement announcing the 28-year-old’s identity, the force said: “The identity is based on information the deceased provided to the Home Office earlier this year.
“Police Scotland will continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident in Glasgow.
“The police discharge of firearms resulting in a fatality will also continue to be fully investigated by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC).
“Both of these inquiries, which take place under the direction of the Lord Advocate, are ongoing and it would not be appropriate to speculate either about the events or the outcomes of these investigations.”
Additional reporting by PA