First today, on behalf of all Members of this Assembly, I wish to express our heartfelt condolences to all those affected by the dreadful events in Manchester last night. Each and every one of us is shocked by what happened. I know that people the length and breadth of Wales, in all communities, will condemn this unforgivable act of violence and will provide all possible support to the authorities and people of Manchester as they come to terms with what has happened.

I invite the First Minister to make a statement expressing his condolences.

Diolch, Llywydd. You’ve spoken for all Members in expressing the complete solidarity of this Assembly and the Welsh people as a whole with the people of Manchester and all those families who are suffering today. This was a particular form of cruelty at work, because this act was directed towards teenagers coming out of a concert. It’s difficult to imagine an act more appalling and more senseless.

Llywydd, fe fydd holl Aelodau’r Cynulliad a phobl Cymru i gyd eisiau sefyll ochr yn ochr gyda phobl Manceinion heddiw. Dyma’r math mwyaf creulon o derfysg, yn erbyn pobl ifanc yn eu harddegau mewn cyngerdd. Mae’n rhaid i ni i gyd sefyll yn gadarn gyda’n gilydd yn erbyn y math yma o greulondeb disynnwyr, anfoesol ac annealladwy.

Llywydd, I pay tribute to the police, the ambulance service, the NHS in Manchester and all those in the city who opened their doors and reached out the hand of help when help was needed. Already we’ve seen countless stories of bravery, generosity and solidarity that show beyond doubt that the people of Manchester and this country will not bow to terrorism, and that hope, togetherness and unity will always beat hate and those who seek to divide us.

Manchester is well known and well loved by very many Welsh people, especially those living in the north. It has seen terrorism before and I’ve no doubts about the resilience and strength of that great city. Llywydd, I have written both to the Prime Minister and the Mayor of Manchester, Andy Burnham, expressing our outrage at the attacks and offering our solidarity with the people of Manchester. I received a national security briefing from the Cabinet Office by phone this morning, and we will of course continue to monitor events as they develop. Priorities at this stage, however, must be to give families the support they need and allow the police the time and space required to conduct their fast-moving investigations without distraction.

We must never get used to terrorism, at home or abroad. We can never accept these attacks as a fact of life. We should continue to call it what it is: alien, cruel and hateful. The message from this Chamber is that we will not be cowed, nor will we shrink into the shadows, and nor will we change our way of life. Llywydd, that is the best tribute that we can offer to the people of Manchester today.

I ask Members to stand for a minute’s silence.

Gadewch i ni sefyll er cof.

Assembly Members stood for a minute’s silence.

Thank you.