Terrorist attacks are cowardly and shocking, no matter where or when they occur. But there is no doubt that for innocent people to have their lives taken away, or changed forever, while enjoying a beach holiday in the sun, is particularly gruesome and heartbreaking.

My heart, in common with every other in Scotland and across the UK, goes out to everyone caught up in this horrific and senseless attack in Tunisia. It breaks for those who were killed and those who have sustained injuries; for those who are bereaved and for the families who are still living in the nightmare of not knowing exactly what has happened to their loved ones.

At the time of writing this, we still have no official confirmation of Scottish casualties but the images on the front pages of every newspaper in the land tell us that it is only a matter of time until we do.

It is also becoming clearer by the day that British citizens will make up the majority of those killed on the beach last Friday afternoon, making this the worst terrorist attack affecting British people since the London bombings ten years ago.

For governments at times like these, shock and disgust at what has happened, very quickly has to give way to a determination to provide all necessary support and assistance. Primary responsibility in this instance lies with the UK government and, in particular, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. But the Scottish Government will also do everything in our power to assist. We stand ready to help the FCO effort in any way we can and, of course, we will do everything possible to help the families in Scotland who have been so tragically affected.

I convened the Scottish Government's Resilience Committee on Saturday to co-ordinate our efforts with the police and other agencies and we will meet as often as required.

However, in addition to the grief and solidarity that we want to share with those affected - and the practical assistance that we have a duty to provide - there are two other points worth making in the aftermath of an attack like this.

The first is that the terrorists - whatever they might profess to be the case - do not speak for or represent the Muslim community. This terrorist attack, like so many others, was carried out in the name of Islam but, in truth, it was a perversion of that faith.

I am lucky to count many Scottish Muslims as friends and constituents. Right now, Muslims across the world are taking part in the holy month of Ramadan, when they fast from dawn until dusk and dedicate themselves to doing good for others. That - not any senseless act of violence - is the true symbol of their noble and peace loving religion.

So, as we come to terms with yet another horror story, let us remember to stand shoulder to shoulder with our own Muslim community - they share our horror but often carry the added burden of knowing that some, completely wrongly, hold them responsible. They are not responsible and we must never forget that.

The second point is that terrorists, like the one on the beach in Sousse, want to do more than kill and maim. They also want to undermine our whole way of life. They want to make us scared to do all the normal, everyday things - like going on holiday - that we take for granted. We must not let that happen. Yes, our governments and security services must do everything possible to keep us safe and we must follow the advice they give. That applies here at home and when we go abroad. In particular, when planning to travel, it is important to follow the Foreign Office travel advice.

But we must also continue to live our lives and demonstrate to the terrorists and potential terrorists that they will not win. The freedoms that we enjoy in this country have been hard won. They are precious and we should not lightly give them up.

Those who died on the beach last Friday deserve our utmost respect. Their families deserve our sympathy, solidarity and support. But they also deserve to know that we will continue to uphold the freedoms and way of life that allowed them to go on holiday in the first place.

The next few days will be tough as more details emerge of the fatalities. For the families affected, life will never be the same again. But let's pull together with a determination that those who show no respect for human life or dignity, will not be allowed to prevail.