Jonathan Edwards MP expresses shock and concern over incident at Ysgol Dyffryn Amman

Today’s events would have come as a huge shock to everyone in the Amman Valley and across Carmarthenshire. We are fortunate to live in some of the safest communities in the UK and Wales, and I am sure all of us would never have thought something like this could happen in Ammanford.

The information available to me indicates that thankfully and luckily there have been no fatalities and all directly involved are likely to be discharged from medical care.

I would like to thank the first responders in the emergency services for their professionalism and to the staff at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman for implementing protocols correctly. I pay tribute to the bravery of the victims, my thoughts are with them and the pupils of the school.

I would like to personally thank the staff of Ysgol Gymraeg Rhydaman for their communication in assuring me that my own children were safe.

Clearly a line has been crossed that a weapon has been taken into a place of education. We need to now wait for the various investigations that will be undertaken to conclude their work before reflecting on how we ensure teachers and our sons and daughters are kept safe in school. After events like this there are always lessons to be learnt.

In my interviews in the media I have emphasised how strong our communities are in Carmarthenshire and the Amman Valley, the place I am enormously proud to call home. I completely confident as a community we will face the events that have happened today and move forward together as one.