Man arrested as police investigate claims of offensive Twitter message about Glasgow bin lorry crash

Northumbria Police said they had received a number of complaints in relation to a message posted on to the site following the incident yesterday

Five females and one male died yesterday after an out-of-control bin lorry drove along a street full of shoppers in Glasgow city centre

(Stephen Gibson)

A man has been arrested as police investigate claims an offensive message was posted on to Twitter about the Glasgow bin lorry crash.

Northumbria Police said they had received a number of complaints in relation to a message posted on to the site following the incident yesterday.

Five females and one male died after the out-of-control truck drove along a street full of shoppers in George Square.

Police have today said a 19-year-old man from Sunderland has been arrested "on suspicion of making a mailicious communication" after he handed himself into police on Monday evening.

A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: "He has been bailed pending further enquiries into the incident.

Police have launched an investigation into what caused a bin lorry to veer out of control

(EPA)

"The Twitter message was deleted by the individual immediately."

Three of the six victims killed in the incident were an elderly couple and their granddaughter, it has today been reported.

Jack Sweeney, his wife Lorraine and their granddaughter Erin McQuade, understood to be in her teens, are reported to have died yesterday after the council vehicle lost control.

A special prayer service has been held today for the victims at nearby St George's Tron Parish Church.

The service was attended by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Glasgow City Council leader Gordon Matheson.

During the service, the Rev Stuart Smith, moderator of Glasgow Presbytery of the Church of Scotland, said the circumstances of the crash were "more sudden and shocking than we could have imagined possible if it wasn't for the evidence right here in front of us".

A Glasgow City Council spokesperson said there were two other crew members on the lorry at the time of the crash, but the condition of the two men was not known.

A large cordon remains in place at the square and hundreds of floral tributes have been placed at the scene.

Additional reporting by PA