First Minister has met with resilience committee and instructed that flags will fly at half mast. First Minister Alex Salmond and Justice Secretary, Kenny MacAskill, have visited the command centre coordinating the multi-agency emergency response to the helicopter crash that occurred in Glasgow last night.

They received an update on the incident, including the confirmation by Police Scotland that at that point one fatality was confirmed. Subsequent reports confirm that there have been eight fatalities.

The First Minister, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Justice held a meeting of the Scottish Government’s resilience committee this morning. Mr Salmond has instructed that Saltire and Lion Rampant flags outside Scottish Government and Historic Scotland buildings will fly at half-mast this weekend as a mark of respect.

First Minister Alex Salmond said: “I have visited the control centre and spoken to officers and emergency staff from Police Scotland, the fire service the health service and the ambulance service. “All of us have seen over the last few hours, the speed and effectiveness of the mobilisation of the emergency services in dealing with this tragedy. “We’ve also heard of the instinctive courage of ordinary Glaswegians going to assist their fellow citizens in extremity.

“This is a black day for Glasgow and for Scotland. Our condolences go to those who will be bereaved, our solidarity with those who have been injured.

“But it’s also St Andrew’s Day and it’s a day we can take pride and courage in how we respond to adversity and tragedy, and the response from our emergency services and ordinary citizens has been exemplary.”