Inquiry begins into death of Glasgow Park Inn hotel attacker

An inquiry has begun into the death of an asylum seeker who was shot and killed by police after stabbing six people at a hotel in Glasgow.

Badreddin Abdalla Adam Bosh, 28, injured his victims at the city centre Park Inn hotel on June 26, 2020.

Bosh, from Sudan, was killed after officers attempted to disarm him using non-lethal weapons.

The Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) at Glasgow Sheriff Court is expected to last two months.

Bosh was one of hundreds of refugees moved from flats into hotels at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

This move drew concerns about the mental health of often vulnerable individuals.

Three asylum seekers, two hotel workers and Police Scotland officer David Whyte were hurt in the attack.

The inquiry heard that Bosh had travelled through Libya, Germany and Italy before claiming UK asylum in Belfast in 2019.

Bosh said he had been beaten after taking part in student protests in Sudan, and he feared he would be killed if he went back.

He moved to London then Glasgow where he was housed by the Mears Group - who were contracted by the Home Office for asylum seekers residencies.

The hearing was told that Bosh struggled in a flat in the city's Dennistoun, where he lived with another asylum seeker.

Bosh was moved to the Park Inn Hotel where he suffered coronavirus symptoms. He was kept in his room between April and June 2020 to self-isolate.

Steven Robbins, the former regional head of Mears, was the first witness to give evidence at the inquiry.

He said that Bosh had reported to a member of the Mears team four days before his death, with "everything okay, no problems".

The court heard that Bosh had applied to the Home Office on several occasions for a voluntary return to Sudan.

He told a fellow asylum seeker that he had "no sleep" at the hotel and said "people are against me, making noises just to annoy me."

The inquiry was told that Bosh also criticised the Park Inn food and that he had earlier threatened to stab someone at the hotel.

Advocate depute Alan Cameron KC asked Robins if this would have amounted to a "violent or aggressive incident" which would have required intervention.

Robins replied: "Based on our information at the time, no. It was deemed as a flippant comment.

"I cannot speak for the situation at the time.

"The housing manager reviewing the case didn't think that it was in category one which is the highest level of violence."

Aamer Anwar, the solicitor representing Bosh's family, said: "Mr Bosh's family, whilst grieving for the loss of a brother and son, hope that questions will be answered by those who neglected to take care of Mr Bosh, but also for the wider community."

On the day of his death, Bosh repeatedly stabbed fellow resident Max Glossoa outside a restaurant near the hotel.

Glossoa was treated for internal bleeding and surgery to remove part of his small intestine and colon.

Bosh went on to stab Mohammed Soula seven times, then another victim Edward Kane who suffered six wounds.

He punched and struggled with Mohammed Kanu in the hotel then approached Mohammed Mansary and repeatedly stabbed him.

After a 999 call was made, PCs David Whyte and Frank McGee arrived at the scene.

PC Whyte suffered knife wounds to his left thigh, abdomen, neck and face.

After the arrival of more officers, Bosh was shot six times. A post-mortem exam found the cause of death was "gunshot wounds to neck and chest."

The inquiry before Sheriff Stuart Reid continues.