OBAMA DRAMA
Man arrested minutes before Barack Obama’s COP26 speech as undercover armed cops swoop on Glasgow property
by John Dingwall · The Scottish SunARMED police working undercover pinned down a man suspected of firearms offences just a stone’s throw from COP26 - minutes before Barack Obama’s arrival at the SEC Blue Zone.
The arrest took place in the Finnieston area of Glasgow, close to where Barack Obama turned up to speak to delegates after flying into the city late last night.
Masked officers carrying assault rifles raced to the scene in unmarked cars and blocked off the suspect, 43, and another man in their motor - dark-coloured Volkswagen.
More than half-a-dozen plain clothes officers were on the scene as the men were dragged from the car and thrown to the ground face down.
One eyewitness told of seeing one of the arrested men attempt to make a run for it.
The incident took place off the city’s St Vincent Street at around 11.15am this morning, minutes before the former US president arrived at the Blue Zone at the SEC, where world leaders and delegates hold meetings.
Obama was joined by John Kerry, the US climate envoy, as he made his way to give a speech at 11.30am, less than 15 minutes after the arrests took place.
Eyewitnesses told of their shock as the operation unfolded on the junction at Breadalbane St and St Vincent St, in Finnieston.
They told how police ordered them to get back from the scene as they carried out the operation.
Eileen Gordon, 29, a shop worker, said: "It happened that quick. It was rapid. There was no messing about. Cars came from everywhere.
"Several cars surrounded the Volkswagen and it looked like one of the guys tried to make a run for it but they got a grip on him and pinned him to the ground.
"The driver was pulled out of the car and he had assault rifles aimed at him."
It is understood the incident is not terror-related.
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The former US President delivered a keynote address at 2pm where he called for governments to step up and deliver real change to tackle the climate crisis.
Speaking today as COP26 enters its second week, he said not enough has been done to combat climate change and called for united action.
He said: "In many ways, islands are the canary in the coalmine in this situation.
They are sending a message now that if we don’t act then it’s going to be too late.
"All of us have a part to play, all of us have work to do and all of us have sacrifices to make."
He added: “Those of us who live in big, wealthy nations, those of us who helped to precipitate the problem, we have an added burden to make sure that we are working with and helping and assisting those who are less responsible and less able, but are more vulnerable to this oncoming crisis."
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "A 43-year-old man was arrested on Argyle Street, Glasgow, on Saturday, 6 November, and charged with an alleged breach of the peace in relation to a COP26 event earlier this month.
"He appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Sunday, 7 November, and was released on bail.
"The man was further arrested today (Monday, 8 November) on Breadalbane Street, Glasgow, in connection with alleged firearms offences following a search warrant being carried out at an address on Argyle Street and enquiries are ongoing."