Emergency crews have been rushed to Piccadilly Gardens in the centre of Manchester after a bus crashed into a building.
Police, fire service vehicles and ambulance crews were rushed to the area in the heart of the city centre, and a cordon is currently in place.
In a statement, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: “At 1.15pm today, two fire engines from Manchester Central and Salford fire stations as well as the technical response unit from Ashton fire station were called to an incident on Parker Street, Manchester city centre.
“Crews remain in attendance.”
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Greater Manchester Police also issued a statement that reads: "At around 1pm today (Monday 16 October) police were called to reports of a collision involving a bus and a shop in Piccadilly Gardens.
"Police alongside colleagues in the Northwest Ambulance Service and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue have been in attendance.
"There are road closures in the area whilst emergency services remain at the scene dealing with the collision and officers from GMP's Serious Collision Investigation Unit are in attendance.
"We would ask members of the public to avoid the area where possible whilst officers establish the full circumstances."
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The tram stop at Piccadilly Gardens has also been closed in the aftermath of the incident, and buses have been rerouted to avoid the central bus terminus at Piccadilly Gardens.
In its own statement, Transport for Greater Manchester said: "Due to an ongoing police incident involving a bus, Piccadilly Gardens is currently closed to all bus services.
"All buses are using alternative stops in the city centre.
“Metrolink services will not stop at Piccadilly Gardens."
It is not known how many people have been injured, but North West Ambulance Service has since confirmed a number of casualties.
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The emergency response organisation said: "We have four ambulances, two senior paramedics, a cycle responder, an operations manager and the Hazardous Area Response Team on the scene.
"There are a number of casualties."
One eyewitness told the Manchester Evening News that she saw at least three people injured, telling the publication: "I had seen the driver quickly turning right, then I had heard the crash suddenly and people started to rush over.
"I could see people trying to help and the police arrived very quickly after and started to get all pedestrians away."
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On X, another eyewitness posted: "A bus has just crashed into the front of a shop at Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester, never seen so many emergency service vehicles in my life.
"Properly, properly horrendous."
Topics: UK News
Tom Wood