THE terror began at 3.15pm on Saturday when the bombers tried to drive the Jeep Cherokee into the main terminal building of Glasgow Airport.

THE terror began at 3.15pm on Saturday when the bombers tried to drive the Jeep Cherokee into the main terminal building of Glasgow Airport.

On impact, the car, with the driver and one passenger inside, burst into flames and smoke was soon billowing above the terminal.

As holidaymakers and others looked on, the driver was seen holding a petrol canister and pouring petrol on himself and the car.

The passenger, an Asian man, jumped out of the vehicle and some reports said he was seen attempting to walk towards the terminal building.

One of the men reportedly attempted to open the car boot but, within seconds, passers-by joined police in attempting to restrain the pair. The driver of the 4x4, reported to be another Asian man, became engulfed in flames.

As he stepped out of the car, eyewitnesses said he was lashing out at those around him, with one witness claiming the man was shouting "Allah" during the furore.

Several members of the public tried to intervene and an off-duty police officer used a fire extinguisher to put out the flames, then restrained the man on the ground.

One member of the public was hurt in the scuffle and was taken to the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow, where he was in a stable condition.

While the passenger was taken into custody, the driver was taken to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley with severe burns. At the hospital, a "suspect device" was discovered on his body. The accident and emergency unit of the hospital was evacuated and patients referred to the Southern General and Glasgow's Western Infirmary.

The device was removed and examined by explosives experts, who found it to be safe. The casualty department was later reopened.

Meanwhile, the fire at the airport continued to burn. It later emerged gas canisters were packed into the vehicle, which was removed from the scene yesterday afternoon.

Eyewitnesses were taken to a hotel in the outskirts of the airport.Passengers already on planes were kept on the runway for about seven hours before being taken on buses away from the airport area.