A woman and her daughter were stabbed to death, and their alleged assailant killed in a car crash, after an attack at a hospital in Kilmarnock.
Police Scotland said a 39-year-old woman, believed to be an an NHS worker, died in the car park of Crosshouse university hospital after she was found badly injured at about 7.45pm on Friday. She received emergency medical treatment but died at the scene.
About 20 minutes later, another woman, 24, was stabbed on Portland Street in the Ayrshire town and was taken by ambulance to Crosshouse hospital, where she later died.
The women were named locally as Emma Robertson Coupland, 39, and her daughter, Nicole Anderson, 24. Anderson, who was about to be married, was attacked close to a takeaway where she worked. Police Scotland said the force could not yet publicly confirm their identities.
Soon afterwards, the 40-year-old male driver of a car, named locally as Steven Robertson, was killed after crashing into a tree near the A76. Paramedics and police found him dead at the scene.
Police said the incidents were believed to be linked, but were not terror-related.
Ch Supt Faroque Hussain of Police Scotland said: “A number of locations remain cordoned off as officers continue to conduct inquiries. We are working to confirm the full circumstances of what has happened. If anyone has any information which could assist our inquiries, please do contact us.
Understandably, people will be shocked by what has happened. We are still in the process of establishing the full circumstances. However, I would like to reassure people that there is no wider threat to the community. Officers will be on patrol and anyone with any concerns can approach these officers.”
The hospital was locked down for three hours on Thursday night in the immediate aftermath of the incident, with ambulances diverted to a hospital in nearby Ayr. On Friday, the hospital’s A&E department and main entrance had opened and were operating as normal while two police vans remained outside, with part of the car park, close to the hospital’s physiotherapy department, taped off.
John Burns, the chief executive of Ayrshire and Arran NHS board, said the hospital was offering support to the staff who tried to save the lives of the two women, one of whom was their colleague. In a statement he said the “terrible events … will no doubt have had a massive impact on all those
“I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the professionalism of the staff who were involved in the incident,” he said. “This was a particularly challenging incident, and our staff reacted with care and compassion.”
Several roads in the area remain closed including Portland Street, where the second attack occurred, and surrounding streets.
East Ayrshire council tweeted: “Due to serious incidents in Kilmarnock, Police Scotland has advised of the following road closures: West George Street, Portland Street and Union Street closed to all traffic. Garden Street leading to Hill Street and Portland Street also closed and no access to and from Witch Road area.”
Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, tweeted: “Dreadful news. My thoughts are with the bereaved. Thinking too of everyone at Crosshouse hospital, already dealing with the tough circumstances of Covid. I’m also grateful to our emergency services. Please continue to follow Police Scotland advice.”
Earlier, Humza Yousaf, the Scottish justice secretary, said it was a “horrific incident. Heartbreaking for the families, friends and colleagues of all of those involved – my thoughts with them all.”
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