Our thoughts are with all those suffering at this time

OUR thoughts, our deepest sympathies, our prayers go out to the family and friends of those who lost their lives in the appalling mass shooting in Plymouth.

The events of Thursday night have sent shock waves through the city and the wider Westcountry community.

The perpetrator who took his own life will never be brought to justice, and the fact that such isolated events are rare in this nation will be of little comfort to those grieving the loss of loved ones.

Innocent lives were taken and we can only join in expressing our heartfelt condolences to those suffering at this time.

Prayers will be offered in churches this weekend, and people will join in paying their respects in other ways, laying flowers near the scene or sharing in a time of reflection.

Details of the unfolding tragedy emerged through formal channels after the Western Morning News had gone to press on Thursday evening, and today we provide coverage of the incident and aftermath.

Plymouth Sutton & Devonport MP Luke Pollard is right when he says the events made it one of the darkest days in the city’s history since the Second World War.

“This is just an unspeakably grim set of events that have taken place. Keyham where the shootings have taken place is a tight-knit community, it’s a place where you know your neighbours and you look out for one another. To have something like this take place here, is utterly devastating for the community,” he said.

He added that there are those “that feel that this is an attack on an entire community”. Such a loss of life, such an appalling act of violence, will certainly be felt widely and for a long time to come across the city and Westcountry, and we also think of those who witnessed the events and the anguish they will endure, as well as those injured in the shooting, whom we wish a speedy recovery.

Plymouth Moor View MP Johnny Mercer said there is “clearly a lot of work to do to support communities who watched and saw some horrific incidents. There are families at the centre of all of this, and we will do everything that we can to pull together as a city to support those who need it and deal with what is one of the darkest days for many, many years”. He added: “We are thinking of the families and the emergency services who have dealt with a horrific situation that we don’t expect to happen in Plymouth.”

And the Bishop of Plymouth, The Right Reverend Mark O’Toole has asked for people to pray for those affected and the people of the city.

“It is with a deep sense of shock and sadness that we heard the news of the terrible shooting in our beloved city,” he said.

“I offer my support and prayers for all those who were killed, and for their loved ones at this tragic time.”

At the Western Morning News we share in the widespread shock and sorrow that such an atrocity could have taken place in the heart of our community.

We can only hope that the heartfelt sympathy of so many may provide some comfort to all those suffering at this time.