A masked thug carried out a baseball bat attack at a leading concert venue which specialises in breaking new acts.

The man burst into Broadcast in Glasgow’s Sauchiehall Street and smashed glasses and beer pumps as terrified drinkers fled.

The venue has given scores of indie music acts their big break, including Welsh rockers Catfish and the Bottlemen, who ­headlined TRNSMT in July.

The attack happened at 8.45pm on ­Monday, ­September 30.

The venue was not staging a concert at the time but was busy with ­customers.

A staff ­member, who asked not to be named, said: “This was quite a shocking event.

“There was a fairly significant amount of ­damage to the bar, particularly to the front ­window.

“The window alone cost ­several thousand pounds to replace.

“We were very lucky that no one was injured.”

He added: “The guy was ­covered and he had a hood up.

“He ran the length of the bar smashing glasses, pumps and even the till.

“Before he left, he smashed an interior window and then smashed the front windows. We had to close the bar for the night because there was so much damage.

“The staff were terrified. Some were trapped behind the bar and this guy was working his way down towards where they were.

“In that moment, they didn’t know if he was coming for them next.” People fled the scene as the frenzied attacker targeted the cash register.

Catfish and The Bottlemen, seen playing here at TRNSMT, got their big break at the venue

He escaped in a car that was parked outside.

The bar is owned by Paul ­Cardow, who hired extra security following the incident.

The businessman also ­operated the O2 ABC before it was gutted by the Glasgow School of Art blaze last June. ­Cardow, 54, is director of ­Glasgow-based PCL Presents.

He has put on acts such as Ed Sheeran, Oasis, Katy Perry, and the Foo Fighters in the last 20 years.

He also runs the music venue Sneaky Pete’s in Edinburgh.

In July 2017, he was organiser of a controversial Green Day gig in Bellahouston Park, ­Glasgow, which had to be ­cancelled at the last minute due to heavy rain.

At the time, PCL said it was no longer safe for the American band to perform.

A police spokeswoman said: “We were called around 8.45pm on Monday, September 30, to a report of vandalism at a business premises in Sauchiehall Street. Inquiries are ongoing.”

Cardow declined to comment.