Brussels attacks: '˜Edinburgh stands with Belgium'

Flags are lowered at the City Chambers. Picture: Edinburgh City Council.

Flags flying above Edinburgh City Chambers were lowered to half mast as a mark of respect and support for all those affected.

Councillor Wilson said: “On behalf of all of the people of Edinburgh, I send our heartfelt condolences to Brussels and the families of those who have died and are injured.

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“I am sending a letter of sympathy to both the Belgian Consul General and Mayor of Brussels, but words can hardly do justice in the wake of such an attack and can only confirm that we stand with the people of Belgium.

“Our thoughts are with the victims, their families and their loved ones at this sad time.”

Meanwhile, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland said he had been left “shocked and saddened” by the terrorist attacks.

The Right Rev Dr Angus Morrison said his thoughts were with all the families and friends of people who have been killed and injured.

At least 34 people have died and nearly 200 were hurt following coordinated bomb attacks on the main airport and Metro system in the city.

Dr Morrison and Omar Shaikh, of the Islamic Finance Council, condemned the atrocity when the pair met in Edinburgh on Tuesday to announce a new partnership to create ethical financial services aimed at tackling inequality and poverty.

Speaking about the attack, the Moderator said: “We feel so sad that something like this has happened again.

“We have to work harder than ever to build bridges to one another in different communities to make sure atrocities like this become a thing of the past.”

Mr Shaikh added: “It is very sad day. I think what’s important is that we are all in this together and all communities need to come together to address this.”

The Rev Dr Andrew Gardner, who has been the minister at St Andrew’s Church of Scotland in Brussels for nearly 12 years, said the attacks had left him shocked and the city in lockdown.

“There are whole swathes of people whose lives will never be the same again,” he said.

“There is deftly silence about the city broken by the sirens of emergency vehicles. The rumble of the trams that regularly pass near the manse has stopped.”