Paris attacks: Shropshire MPs express shock and sorrow

Mr Paterson today spoke of the "shock of the bewilderment" of friends he spoke to.

He returned for a debate in Westminster today with the thoughts of the French people very much in his mind.

He said: "The French are genuinely shocked and bewildered.

"I talked to local people where we were staying and they said 'but these people were our young people, they went to schools here, they grew up here'. It is an appalling situation.

"What are the three things that people living in an open society do at the weekend, they go to a football match, they go to the theatre, they sit in a restaurant, all the places that were attacked."

Mr Paterson regularly takes breaks in the south of France and has close links with the country.

He said the events in Paris proved that Britain must continue to support its intelligence and security services and not change legislation in a way that would hamper them.

He added: "It makes you appreciate the incredible work our intelligence services do. An awful lot of tragedies have not happened in Britain because of them.

"As Northern Ireland minister I had to sign warrants quickly and at all times of the day and night. We must not slow that system down and we must recognise that we could be next."

Ludlow MP and defence minister Philip Dunne stressed the need for the UK to be "vigilant" and to "empower" its security services.

He said: "I share the shock of these attacks in Paris and offered my condolences to my French counterpart on Friday night. These appalling events demonstrate the need for us all to be vigilant and our security services to be empowered."

Telford MP Lucy Allan took to social media to express her sorrow, posting: "Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité - defy extremism."

Montgomery MP Glyn Davies said: "The terrorist attack on Paris is deeply shocking and frightening. Initially we can think only of those killed and injured. And about the mindless violence so close to us. I think it will have an impact on how we view our security, but much too soon to make conclusions or decisions."

Shrewsbury and Atcham MP Daniel Kawczynski said: "On behalf of Shrewsbury and outlining villages we extend our condolences to our friends in France. This is a shocking and tragic loss of human lives."

Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard added: "This was an awful attack, but we must remain resolute, determined and united in our fight against the evil of terrorism, and stand by our beliefs in freedom and democracy. We will not be cowered by these despicable acts."

Kuldip Sahota, leader of Telford & Wrekin Council, paid his respects to the victims and their families.

He said it was time the UK and its allies "took on any terrorists", whose aim was to plan and carry out deadly attacks.

He said: "All my sympathies go to the people of Paris and for the people who lost their lives. It is absolutely terrible and it is time we took on the terrorists involved in attacks like this. "What really worries me now is that something like this could happen in the UK."

Keith Barrow, leader of Shropshire Council, also expressed his sorrow following the terror attack.

He said: "It's really awful. My thoughts and prayers are with the people. It is an horrendous act of terrorism."

Muslim Council for Wales general secretary Saleem Kidwai said the people behind the attacks were "criminals and terrorists".

He said: "They are not Islamic. They are not human beings to me.

"I cannot imagine why any human being would want to commit an atrocity and kill innocent people.

"If you are in a war zone and fighting an army then you can justify your acts, but killing innocent people?

"It is disturbing to me."