Park Inn: What do we know about asylum hotel at centre of Glasgow attack?

Campaign group says 91-room hotel was used by social care provider Mears Group

The hotel at the centre of the major incident in Glasgow was being used to house asylum seekers during the coronavirus lockdown.

Armed police were seen entering the Park Inn following reports of multiple stabbings inside the city centre building on Friday afternoon.

The Radisson Hotel Group, which runs the Park Inn, confirmed the 91-room hotel on West George Street was being used for temporary housing.

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic event that happened today on West George Street in Glasgow,” said area senior vice-president Tom Flanagan Kartunnen.

“We are working with the hotel owner and all the relevant local authorities, including Police Scotland, to support the investigation.

“During the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the hotel has been occupied for temporary housing.”

Mohammad Asif, chair of Afghan Human Rights Foundation, claimed asylum seekers were among the residents.

He wrote on Twitter: “I am told by an asylum seeker resident in the hotel that they are NOT allowed to speak to anyone, he said many people have stabbed by knives.”

Campaign group Positive Action In Housing said it had raised concerns about the housing of asylum seekers at the building by social care provider Mears Group.

“The Park Inn Hotel is one of several hotels used controversially by Mears Group to house asylum seekers moved from temporary homes into hotels without any money at all.

“Very desperate people living there including several of our service users.

“Only yesterday, the Mears Group admitted to Scottish MPs that they had FAILED to do vulnerability assessments of asylum seekers who they forcibly moved.”

Mears’ chief operating officer, John Taylor, told MPs on Thursday that there was no formal assessment but insisted that it had managers based at each hotel to help residents with any issues on a daily basis. The company has previously accused refugee activists of spreading “false and misleading information”.

Positive Action in Housing has also reported that a Syrian refugee named Adnan Elbi died after a suspected suicide at a nearby hotel, the McLays Guest House.

“Adnan was one of 370 asylum seekers forcibly moved into hotels with no social distancing and no money,” it added.

Six people including a police officer were injured in the incident and a suspect has been shot dead by armed officers.