Police Scotland Chief calls for 'alert not alarm' in wake of Brussels attack

Police Scotland leader says uniform patrols at Edinburgh and Glasgow airports will be increased to reassure the public.

Published 22nd Mar 2016

Security is being reviewed at Scottish transport hubs in the wake of the Brussels blasts, Chief Constable Phil Gormley said.

The Police Scotland leader said uniform patrols at Edinburgh and Glasgow airports will be increased to reassure the public.

Mr Gormley did not discuss any potential threats to Scotland but asked the public to be "sensibly vigilant''.

At a conference at Hampden Park attend by the First Minister and Lord Advocate, Mr Gormley said: "As I sit here I have colleagues reflecting on our security posture at airports and other transport hubs and others who are reaching out to communities who will be deeply concerned about what this means for them and their relationships with their neighbours.

"We are in close contact with counter terrorism colleagues in London, we are reflecting on what is a sensible and proportionate response to what we have seen across the Channel.

"At the moment we will increase our reassurance and uniform presence particularly at Edinburgh and Glasgow airports but my message really is alert not alarm.

"The public need to be sensibly vigilant and tell us if they see things of a concern to them but these terrorists want us to alter our way of life and undermine our freedoms to lets make sure that we maintain a proportionate response to this.''

Nicola Sturgeon expressed her horror at the events in the Belgian capital.

"My thoughts are with everybody caught up in these events and indeed with the people of Belgium.

"It is a stark reminder of the importance of work we are doing to tackle hate crime and to strengthen diversity and community cohesion."