The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has said he has been left “shocked and saddened” by the terrorist attacks in Brussels.
The Right Rev Dr Angus Morrison said his heart went out to all the families and friends of people who have been tragically killed and injured.
Dr Morrison, who is from Perthshire, and Omar Shaikh of the Islamic Finance Council stood shoulder to shoulder in Edinburgh today to condemn the atrocity and appeal to communities to work harder than ever before to build bridges.
Mr Shaikh, an advisory board member, said “we are all in this together” and promised that ordinary Muslims would continue to play their part.
Dr Morrison, who has said a prayer for all those affected by the atrocity, said: “The Church of Scotland is shocked and saddened by the terrorist attacks in Brussels today.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who have lost their lives and with those who are recovering from their injuries.”
He added: “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.”
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 atrocity had left him shocked and the city, which has had a heavy military presence since the Paris attacks in November, was once again in lockdown.
“As I think of those who have lost loved ones in the two attacks my heart is heavy,” he added.
“There are whole swathes of people whose lives will never be the same again.
“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.
“More than ever we need to hear of God’s message of hope of resurrection life.
“We must continue to reach out to all people in Christ’s name, care for people in Christ’s name, share the gospel in Christ’s name and like anyone else go about our business.
“For if we stop doing that then the ghastly evil that has visited us in our city today has won and the Cross will have been for nothing.”