NI leaders in US massacre tribute

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Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness have issued their first joint statement, a message of sympathy to those affected by the Virginia Tech massacre.

"We fully understand the impact that events like this can have on a community and the population as a whole," the men said.

The first and deputy first ministers elect said the "senseless loss of young life in such numbers is tragic".

They sent their condolences to the families of the victims.

A Northern Ireland playwright who teaches at the university has said he is stunned by the massacre, which happened early on Monday morning at the university in the town of Blacksburg.

Eddie Kerr, who teaches there for a month every year, said he spent all night trying to contact friends there.

"I know the campus very well and have been going back and forth to it for the last six years," he said.

Police took up positions around the campus"I really and sincerely hope that students I know and have taught are not among the dead," said the Londonderry writer.

"We are having great difficulty trying to get through, and through to the staff in particular who I have been trying to contact.

"Obviously the lines are all jammed, but I have been able to contact via email and have been assured that everyone that I know is safe.

"At this stage, we hope that is the case."

'Tragedy to tragedy'

Mr Kerr said he was "numbed and stunned" by the images he had seen on TV while back in Derry.

"Knowing the campus, knowing the layout and knowing the area, this is an idyllic situation - it is right at the bottom of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

"It is an absolutely beautiful, utopian, middle-class area.

"Blacksburg is a university town and the town is the university."

He added: "This goes from tragedy to tragedy... this is the result of bearing arms in America."