Celtic fans escaped a coach fire near Glasgow's Clyde Gateway on Sunday. This followed a 1-0 loss to Rangers, with no injuries reported.
The A728 blaze and the evacuation at Clyde Gateway
The emergency unfolded on the A728 near the Emirates Arena and the Clyde Gateway area of east Glasgow, where the rear of a supporters' coach ignited. Thick black smoke became visible across the skyline, prompting a rapid evacuation of all passengers and crew to a safe location. As reported in the source, the blaze caused significant traffic disruption, bringing movement to a standstill while emergency services managed the scene.
Police Scotland confirmed that no injuries were sustained by those on board the vehicle. Fire crews responded to the alarm with two fire engines, working to extinguish the flames and secre the area. The passengers, who had already endured a difficult day of football, were forced to watch from the roadside as their transport burned.
A 1-0 defeat and two losses in eight days
The transport crisis served as a grim coda to a painful sporting result at Parkhead. In the match, Rangers seured a 1-0 victory, with Ryan Naderi scoring the decisive goal in the first half. This result left Celtic supporters frustrated and empty-handed, as their team failed to find an equalizer before the final whistle.
This specific loss is part of a wider,distressing trend for the Glasgow club. According to the source, this match marked the second time in just eight days that Celtic had fallen to their city rivals. Such a sequence of results intensifies the emotional weight of the Old Firm derby, a rivalry known for its extreme volatility and high stakes for both fanbases.
McLean's Coaches and the suspicion of deliberate damage
The operator of the vehicle, McLean's Coaches, has raised concerns that the fire was not accidental. According to the Daily Record, the company stated that based on initial information and images of the scene, there is reason to believe the blaze was causd by deliberate damage. This suggests that the fire may have been an act of vandalism targeting the supporters.
McLean's Coaches has since recovered the vehicle from the Clyde Gateway site. The company indicated that the coach will undergo a comprehensive inspection to determine the exact cause of the fire before it is ever returned to service. The matter has been formally passed to the relevant authorities for a full investigation into the circumstances of the ignition .
The missing police confirmation on the vandalism claim
While McLean's Coaches has publicly pointed toward vandalism, a critical piece of information remains missing: official confirmation from law enforcement. Police Scotland has confirmed the lack of injuries, but the source does not indicate whether the police have officially classified the fire as a criminal act or if any suspects have been identified.
Furthermore, the report relies solely on the coach operator's statement regarding the cause of the fire. Until Police Scotland provides a forensic update or confirms an active arson investigation, the claim of deliberate damage remains an unverified assertion by the private company involved.
Comments 0