Bashir Ahmad MSP tonight joined the First Minister for a dinner at Glasgow Central Mosque to mark their election to the Scottish Parliament and thank the First Minister for his support in the aftermath of the Glasgow Airport attacks.

At the event Mr Ahmad thanked the First Minister by saying: "I am sure you will agree, our First Minister and his Government responded in a fantastic manner to the attack at Glasgow airport. 24 hours after the attack he came to this very mosque to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Muslim community.

"He stood with us to send out a clear message that our community, as Scottish Muslims, is just as sickened with the attempt to take innocent lives as everyone else and I know we thank him for his reassuring words during that time.
 

"I have a personal thanks to give him as well. There is no way I could be here and have the privilege of being Scotland's first Muslim MSP if it had not been for his support and his belief in me."

Speaking at the event Mr Salmond said: "Since I became First Minister, I have been reminded time and time again of Scotland's incredible diversity, our spirit of tolerance and understanding, and the strength we draw from it.

"We saw that on St Andrew's day, when Scots of all faiths and all backgrounds came together in celebration of the multi-cultural Scotland we have become. And in the way the whole nation united in joy at this city's success in securing the Commonwealth Games,

"We know that different traditions do not undermine Scottish culture. Instead, they enrich and enhance it.  And from our history and our instincts, we can be sure that our future success depends on remaining open to other people and other cultures."