Three dead in Kilmarnock attacks

Three people have died after a series of incidents which started outside an East Ayrshire hospital. Two women were stabbed and police were called out to a fatal road crash nearby. Police Scotland said the inquiries carried out so far indicate that the incidents were linked.

The force confirmed it is not looking for anyone else as part of the investigation and that there is no ongoing threat to the public. The attacks are not thought to be terror-related.

The first incident occurred outside Crosshouse University Hospital in Kilmarnock, around 25 miles south of Glasgow. A 39-year-old woman, thought to be a nurse, died in the car park after she was found badly injured at 7.45pm on Thursday.

Twenty minutes later, a second woman, 24, was stabbed about two miles away on Portland Street. She was taken by ambulance to Crosshouse Hospital, where she later died. Soon afterwards, a 40-year-old man died in a road crash on the C50 to the south of Kilmarnock, at around 8.30pm.

Ambulances were diverted to University Hospital Ayr as police dealt with the unfolding events until a three-hour lockdown of the hospital was lifted shortly before 11pm.

Chief 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.”

Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, tweeted: “My thoughts are with those involved in these very serious incidents in Crosshouse/Kilmarnock. Please help Ayrshire police do their job by following the advice to stay away from the areas affected.”