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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Laura Sharman & Matt Atherton

Christmas market shut down as two people hurt in gas canister explosion

A Christmas market was closed down by police after two people were injured following reports of a gas canister explosion.

Emergency crews attended the scene in Glasgow and are working to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident on Monday morning.

A market worker, whose stall is next to where the blast took place, said two women were taken to hospital. Their conditions are not known at this time.

"I was told that it was two women that were taken to hospital but that they just had scratches and marks on their hands," she told the Daily Record.

"I don’t think they had any serious injuries. I think they worked at Chinese Noodles bar."

The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said she was not at her stall at the time of the explosion.

Two people were reportedly hurt in the explosion (@CapitalScotNews/Twitter)

"A man turned to me and asked if I knew what was happening. That’s when I started walking up," she explained.

“By the time I arrived, police had set up their cordon."

Plain clothed officers were seen directing people away from the area which was cordoned off and drivers were urged to use another route.

The woman said the market is now operating as normal.

Emergency services are investigating the circumstances surrounding the explosion (@CapitalScotNews/Twitter)

"The atmosphere is fine, people are just disappointed that they can’t go past the cordoned off area," she added.

"We’ve had no word as to when the area might reopen."

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We were made aware of an explosion involving a gas canister at St Enoch Square in Glasgow around 11am on Monday, 5 December.

“Emergency services are currently at the scene and the area has been closed off while work is ongoing to establish the full circumstances."

The market was closed and traffic was redirected following the incident (@CapitalScotNews/Twitter)

Images show the market looking like a ghost town after the morning tragedy which happened just weeks before Christmas.

The park's mini rollercoaster and Heltah Skeltah ride were brought to a standstill while the festive huts selling toys and balloons were boarded shut.

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were called to assist emergency service partners around 11am on Monday, December 5, to reports of a gas explosion within the Christmas Market at St Enoch Square, Glasgow.

“Operations Control mobilised three appliances to the scene.

"Two casualties were handed into the care of the Scottish Ambulance Service."

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