Speaking to DNG Media from the House of Commons, he said he had taken part in the official minute’s silence this morning, describing it as ‘poignant’.
But he said since then it has been “business as usual” at Parliament, adding: “I always take the view that you cannot be cowed by these events. You cannot stop life because these events might occur. We have to carry on.
“We know that locally from the air disaster, you cannot be cowed by this.”
Although he didn’t personally know the policeman victim, Keith Palmer, Mr Mundell said: “Seeing his picture today I feel I have encountered him.
“People feel we have lost one of our Parliamentary family.”
Following the incident Mr Mundell and his staff were in lockdown in their Parliamentary offices for six hours.
Also caught up in events was Dumfries and Galloway MP Richard Arkless.
He said: “I didn’t see or hear any incident at the time – MPs were voting when it happened – when we left the voting lobbies we were told we were on lockdown due to a shooting incident on the estate. I immediately checked in with my family and staff to ensue they were safe and to let them know I was OK.
“My thoughts are with everyone who has been injured in this incident and the brave emergency services who arrived very quickly on the scene.
“It’s fair to say I’m very much looking forward to getting home to D&G.”
Meanwhile, NFU Scotland President Andrew McCornick, from Dumfries, was in London and on his way to Westminster at the time for a high level political meeting.
That was cancelled and he has since returned home, but in a statement he said: “It is a sad and worrying incident and thoughts must be with the victims of this attack, and their families.”
- FULL STORY, ANNANDALE OBSERVER & DUMFRIES COURIER ON FRIDAY
