The National Threat level has been reduced to SEVERE – meaning an attack is ‘highly likely’ – following an assessment by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC).

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was briefed during a Cabinet Office Briefing Room (COBR) meeting held this morning.

Following confirmation from Police Scotland, the First Minister has been reassured that police deployment and security plans already in place for this weekend’s events will remain ‘appropriate and proportionate’.

The First Minister said: “While the decision to move to SEVERE is welcome, we must all remain vigilant.

“There continues to be no intelligence of a specific threat to Scotland; however, security measures and police deployment around major events this weekend will remain.

“Police Scotland has confirmed that the police presence will gradually be scaled back in keeping with the UK-wide operation – but will continue to be appropriate and proportionate.

“Scottish Government Resilience Room (SGoRR) will stay active and work closely with Police Scotland.

“People across Scotland are looking forward to enjoying a bank holiday weekend, and while we should be prepared for enhanced security at the major sporting events, we should go about our lives as normal.

“The response from emergency services, security and intelligence agencies has been outstanding since the tragic incident on Monday night and they deserve our highest praise and sincerest thanks.”

Police Scotland Chief Constable Phil Gormley said: “While the decision to move to SEVERE is welcome, we must all remain vigilant.

“There continues to be no intelligence of a specific threat to Scotland. However, the enhanced police deployment we have planned for the major events this weekend will remain in place.

“The public should continue to expect to see armed police officers on foot patrol at key locations.

“Our policing operation will gradually be scaled back in keeping with the UK-wide operation – but will continue to be proportionate and proportionate.”