SNP conference 2015: Alex Salmond forced to deny believing in ghosts

The former First Minister had said he had seen an image of ghosts that was 'not forged or created'

A minister played down Mr Salmond's comments on the occult

(Reuters)

Alex Salmond was forced to deny he believed in ghosts after claiming on Friday that he had seen photographic evidence that they exist.

In one of the more bizarre events of the SNP conference in Aberdeen the former First Minister told Buzzfeed News that he had once been a guest of honour at a hotel whose owners showed him a picture apparently showing ghosts, which he said was “not forged or created, that would give anyone serious thought about these things.”

However a Scottish government minister played down his comments, saying he was joking. "Alex is taking the piss... he's dug a hole and they've all jumped into it,” he told the Guardian.

In the interview on Friday Mr Salmond said: “There’s a hotel I opened where I saw pictoral evidence which would make anything think seriously about this issue.

“I have seen a photo, which I know was not forged or created, that would give anyone serious thought about these things.”

“I find the picture I saw, and other experiences I’ve had, difficult to explain by what would be normally considered,” he added.

“Now, that doesn’t necessarily mean we’re seeing earthly apparitions of people gone by – there could be other explanations – but there was certainly something in that picture which requires explanation.”