UPDATE: Families hit by 'devastating' incidents on Skye and in the Wester Ross community of Dornie offered Highland Council support amid plea to public for privacy and compassion
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FAMILIES hit by a series of violent incidents in Skye and Lochalsh are being offered help by Highland Council.
A 39-year-old man was arrested after incidents yesterday which left one 47-year-old man dead and three other people in hospital.
Police were initially called to the Tarskavaig area on Skye shortly before 9am after a report of a 32-year-old woman having been seriously injured at a property.
She has since been taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow for treatment.
A further incident at a property in the Teangue area on Skye was then reported shortly after 9.30am after a firearm was discharged.
RELATED: Man (47) dead after string of incidents in Skye and Lochalsh
'I never knew we would see such an awful day'
Emergency services attended but the 47-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Officers subsequently attended at a property in the Dornie area in Wester Ross following a further firearm discharge at a property.
A man was taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness for treatment to serious injuries and a woman was taken to Broadford Hospital.
Highland Council says it is providing "all the assistance it can to the communities and partners involved in the terrible incidents" and has been working with police and other partners to ensure the affected families are supported.
Highland councillors came together to express their shock and support for their communities and stressed that, "while people across the country will be keen to know as much as possible about what has happened, it will have a lasting and devastating personal impact on those involved" and are urging everybody "to recognise their vulnerability and protect their privacy".
One of the incidents – involving the discharge of a firearm – happened in Dornie, served by Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh councillor Biz Campbell. She said: "The community of Dornie is shocked and saddened by these terrible incidents. My thoughts are with all those affected and my heart breaks when I think of how much harm has been caused.”
Fellow ward councillor Chris Birt said: “This has been a really tragic day for all of us in Highland. We are all very distressed about what has happened and send our condolences to all those families and relatives who have been impacted.”
Cllr Liz Kraft, of the same ward, said: “I am devastated and shocked at what has happened. Our communities will be heavily impacted by this and we will do all we can to support them through.”
And Cllr Patrick Logue said: “My thoughts are with the families at this tragic time and I would like to thank the emergency services and council staff for everything they have done today and in the days to come.”
MSP Kate Forbes yesterday called it "the worst day that I can ever recall in the history of Skye and Lochalsh", adding: "I can only hope we will never see another day like it again."
Skye councillor John Finlayson said: “I know how close knit and big-hearted the communities in Skye and Lochalsh are and we will come together to support each other through this devastating time. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the families that have been affected by the events which have hit everyone in our communities so hard.”
Police are expected to give an update today.
This story will be updated.
