THE top police officer in Glasgow has spoken of the "lasting impact" of the Clutha tragedy as the city prepares to mark its first anniversary.
Chief Superintendent Andy Bates recalled his shock and disbelief as he was contacted by the duty officer on November 29, 2013 and told the force helicopter had crashed. The aircraft had plunged from the sky into the packed Clutha bar, killing all three on board and seven inside the venue.
His initial reaction soon turned into action as his officers rushed to the scene for the rescue effort.
"You can't allow yourself to dwell on the fact your colleagues are involved," he said. "You have to detach yourself and deal with the incident as a professional.
"You have to focus and not allow yourself to become emotional."
The Clutha incident was the first big test for Scotland's single police force and Mr Bates said the response from all the emergency services was "exceptional".
He added: "This was an incident on an unprecedented scale. There was an outpouring of grief in Glasgow, but there was also an outpouring of generosity.
"Within days, the site was sealed, road closures were removed, and Glasgow began to return to some kind of normality. But it has had a lasting impact on the city."
Helicopter pilot David Traill and passengers PC Tony Collins and PC Kirsty Nelis were killed. Pub customers Robert Jenkins, 61, Mark O'Prey, 44, Colin Gibson, 33, John McGarrigle, 57, Samuel McGhee, 56, Gary Arthur, 48, and Joe Cusker, 59, also died.
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