Mangled Police Helicopter Removed from Clutha Vaults Pub in Glasgow [PICTURES]

The mangled remains of the police helicopter which smashed into the Clutha Vaults pub in Glasgow have been removed from the crash site.

Emergency service personnel used cranes to lift the destroyed helicopter from the roof of the public house in the centre of the Scottish city.

It means the search can resume for more bodies which rescue workers fear could still be inside the building which was the scene of the tragedy last weekend.

At least nine people were killed when the chopper fell from the sky "like a stone."

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service assistant chief officer David Goodhew said: "We have recovered nine bodies so far. We are now doing a further search. We are hoping that there is no one else in there but before we actually confirm it we need to be doubly, doubly sure."

Members of the police and rescue teams formed a guard honour and saluted as the bodies of victims of the tragedy were taken away from the site.

The helicopter will now undergo examinations in a bid to find out what caused the catastrophe.

Police Scotland's Deputy Chief Constable, Rose Fitzpatrick, said: "In due course the wreckage of the helicopter will be removed and will be taken for detailed examination and investigation by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch Farnborough facility.

"This now enables us, working with colleagues from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, to continue the search and recovery operation within the site to satisfy ourselves that all the victims of Friday night's tragic incident have been recovered.

"This continues to be a difficult and complex operation. A painstaking process is under way to search and also to preserve the scene which is, of course, subject to investigation."

A teenager was arrested for "sectarian and racist" comments published online in the wake of the disaster.