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Major fire ravages celebrated Glasgow School of Art – again

Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon said the damage was far worse than a blaze four years ago

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The smouldering roof of the Glasgow School of Art. Photo: AFP

A huge fire has gutted one of Scotland’s architectural gems, the Mackintosh building at the Glasgow School of Art, which was still being restored after a major blaze in 2014.

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Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said after visiting the site on Saturday that the damage to the 1909 masterpiece by Scottish designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh was “much, much worse” than four years ago.

“It’s devastating,” she told reporters. “Looking at it, it’s a building that is just a shell.”

The fire broke out late on Friday night, when the city centre was full of people enjoying a night out. Among them were many School of Art students celebrating their graduation, which took place earlier.

By the time fire crews were called to the scene the blaze had spread to the whole building.

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Huge flames engulfed the Mackintosh, known locally as the Mack, and spread to adjacent buildings including a nightclub and a theatre, creating an orange glow over the city skyline.

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