Hospital in Kilmarnock locked down due to a ‘serious incident’ in its grounds

Police in Scotland are dealing with three serious incidents across Kilmarnock tonight following a stabbing at the city’s hospital.

University Hospital Crosshouse has been placed under lockdown by armed police after at least one person was stabbed in its grounds.

Dozens of police cars and emergency vehicles swarmed the hospital on the town’s outskirts after being called to a ‘serious incident’ at 7.45pm.

Reports on social media suggest that two people, one a nurse, have been stabbed.

Minutes later officers rush to another incident underneath a viaduct on Portland Street in the centre of the town. This incident reportedly involved a stabbing.

At around 8.30pm police also attended a ‘serious road crash’ on the A76 to the south of Kilmarnock.

It is unclear if the incidents are connected, however they are not being treated as ‘terrorist-related’.

NHS Ayrshire and Arran said that ambulances had been diverted to University Hospital Ayr.

One eye witness at the hospital told the Daily Record: ‘I was picking someone up when a member of medical staff was stabbed. The whole place is on lockdown.

‘Armed police are there and they’re sending everyone away from the area.’

Another witness close to the scene told Ayrshire Live: ‘There are between 10 and 15 police vans sitting on the edge of the Moorfield Estate which is about half-a-mile away from the hospital.

‘It looks like an officer is standing guard outside the A&E department at the hospital.

‘I’ve lived round here for a while and never seen anything like this.’

In an update on the unfolding situation, Police Scotland said: ‘Currently dealing with 3 potentially linked incidents in the Kilmarnock area.

‘The first occurred around 7.45pm outside Crosshouse Hospital, the second around 20 minutes later on Portland Street, and the third, a serious road crash, on the A76, around 8.30pm. 

‘Enquiries into these incidents are at an early stage and these areas have been cordoned off at this time. There is no cause for concern for the wider community.’

Scotland’s Justice Minister Humza Yousaf has tweet about the incident, urging people to avoid the area.

He said: ‘Please listen to Police instructions and avoid both Crosshouse Hospital & Portland St in Kilmarnock. Police are attending a v serious incident.’ 

Crawford McGuffie, NHS Ayrshire and Arran medical director, said: ‘NHS Ayrshire and Arran is aware of an incident in the grounds of University Hospital Crosshouse.

‘As a result, the hospital has been under lockdown, and ambulances diverted to University Hospital Ayr.

‘We are assisting Police Scotland with their investigations, and to ensure the safety of staff, patients and visitors.

‘As this is a Police Scotland incident, we are unable to comment any further at this time.’

Police urged people to avoid the area.

Ayrshire Police tweeted: ‘Officers in Kilmarnock are currently dealing with two serious incidents in the town at this time, one at Crosshouse Hospital and a second in Portland Street.

‘These areas are cordoned off and the public are asked to avoid them at this time.’