Following what appears to have been a suicide bomb attack at the Manchester Arena last night campaigning in the General Election ceased for the day.
Flags at the City Chambers were lowered to half mast and the Lord Provost the Rt Hon Frank Ross has written to the Mayor of Manchester with the city’s condolences.
Edinburgh’s Lord Provost, Frank Ross, said: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and loved ones of this horrific attack. It is particularly upsetting to learn that children are among the dead. Our hearts break for their families.
“In the wake of such terror, we have seen Manchester defy fear and hate and respond with courage and love. It has been truly moving to see citizens and the emergency services show such support for each other.
“The people of Edinburgh stand by their side. The flags flying above our City Chambers have been lowered to half-mast and we will observe a minute’s silence at our council meeting on Thursday as a mark of respect and solidarity.
“I will today be writing to the Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, to express my condolences on behalf of the people of Edinburgh.”
The annual General Assembly of the Kirk is taking place in Edinburgh this week where a minute’s silence was observed for the victims of the atrocity before this morning’s proceedings began.
Speaking after the morning session, Rt Rev Dr Derek Browning said: “The whole of the General Assembly is reaching out to the communities within Manchester. One of our commissioners from Dunfermline, who has connections with local mosques, has said we must remember at this time that many moderate Muslims will be very frightened and very nervous about any potential backlash.
“We, of course, hope this doesn’t happen. We in the Church of Scotland know that these type of activities are not perpetrated by moderate Muslims, but by extremists.
“We stand as a Christian community alongside our Muslim sisters and brothers at this time as well as with the victims in Manchester and hope that we can move forward from what must be a hugely traumatic event.”
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said: “This is devastating news and all my prayers go out today to the families of those who were killed and injured. I can only imagine the pain they are feeling and their heartbreak is shared across the country.
“It goes without saying that our political campaigning will cease today.
“Terrorism has once against struck our country and, once again, we are faced with a sense of disbelief that someone could be capable of carrying out such an appalling act.
“We all stand with the people of Manchester.
“We also all know that this wonderful vibrant city will not be defeated by this terrorist act.
“The courageous work of our emergency services and the generosity and help offered by ordinary people after the attack are the values that define us.
“We have faced down terror before, and we will do so again.”
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
