Flowers laid for Westminster terror attack victims
A special service was held at Sheffield's Peace Gardens
People in South Yorkshire fell silent this afternoon to mark a week since the Westminster terror attack.
Flowers were laid at a ceremony in Sheffield’s Peace Gardens, with banners reading ‘Love for all, hatred for none’.
Leaders of the Christian and Muslim faith were there, as well as South Yorkshire Police Chief Constable Stephen Watson, who paid tribute to the four victims of the attack:
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost loved ones and also with those many people who have suffered serious injury.
“Those who have suffered include people who were visiting our wonderful capital and whose right to an innocent and enjoyable experience was instead replaced with great trauma and distress.
“It is tempting to believe that no good can ever emerge from such a tragic set of circumstances but yet some good has emerged.
“We have been reminded of the willingness of some to put themselves in harm’s way in order to defend others, such as was the case when PC Palmer died in the brave execution of his duty.
“In response to these horrible events we have seen bravery, compassion, resilience and a determination not to be cowed in the face of hatred and attempts to divide us as citizens of our great country.
“Our determination to stand up for our cherished values should be abundantly clear to those who misguidedly believe that our core beliefs can be disturbed through terrorism and violence.
“Our collective response to this atrocity, particularly when combined with the stoic, dignified and humbling reaction of those most closely affected, serves very powerfully to highlight the pointlessness, depravity and cruelty of those who would seek to divide us.
“Misguided people with ill intent have sought to divide us before, they have never succeeded and they never will.”