Scotland pays its respects to Polish victims of plane crash

FLAGS flew at half mast in Scotland yesterday as a mark of respect for the victims of the plane crash that killed the president of Poland.

Scottish Government buildings and the Scottish Parliament lowered flags while a book of condolence was opened in Aberdeen, which has a large Polish community.

President Lech Kaczynski died along with 95 others, including his wife and members of parliament, when their plane crashed in thick fog while trying to land in Russia on Saturday.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "All flags are flying at half mast today in recognition of the untimely death of the Polish president, Lech Kaczynski, and his entire entourage in the air crash."

The crash, at Smolensk in western Russia, claimed the lives of a large section of Poland's elite, including the army chief of staff, the navy chief commander and heads of the air and land forces.

Lord Provost of Aberdeen Peter Stephen said he will write to the Polish ambassador and the local Polish association to express his condolences on behalf of the city.

He added: "The tragic death of president Kaczynski and his wife, along with the loss of so many leading figures from Polish society, has shocked and deeply saddened us all."

Polish mourners in Scotland have been paying their respects at church services, including one yesterday at St Simon's RC in Partick, Glasgow.

Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy said: "The scale of the human tragedy in this terrible incident is immense and our thoughts are with the Polish people as they come to terms with the tragedy that has befallen their country.

"The loss of their President and leader was a huge loss in itself but is compounded by the loss of scores of other political and military figures.

"We have a great many Poles here and I know Scotland will support them all they can through this difficult time."