Airport incident 'was terrorism'
An incident in which a car was driven at Glasgow Airport's main terminal and burst into flames is being treated as a terrorist attack by police.
Strathclyde Police also said the attack was being linked with the car bombs found in central London on Friday.
Two men were arrested following the attack at 1515 BST on Saturday.
BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said a device found on one of the men at hospital was thought to have been a "suicide belt".
Chief Constable Willie Rae told a news conference in Glasgow that the suspect at the city's Royal Alexandra Hospital was being treated for severe burns and was in a critical condition.
He confirmed a device had been found on the suspect.
"As a consequence of that, the hospital was partly evacuated until the device was removed and put into a safe area," he said.
We believe the incident is linked to events in London yesterday
Chief Constable Willie Rae
Strathclyde Police
Mr Rae said the second man was being detained in police custody and the vehicle used in the attack was too unstable to be removed from the airport.
He said the airport had been evacuated and a number of passengers had been "stranded on the tarmac" as a result. "It would have been unwise to evacuate them into the terminal building," he said. No warning
The chief constable said it was not yet known whether anyone else was in the vehicle.
He added: "We believe the incident is linked to events in London yesterday.
There are clearly similarities and we can confirm this is being treated as a terrorist incident."
He said the vehicle, which would undergo close forensic examination, contained material which was flammable.
"There was no prior intelligence to suggest that Scotland was going to be the target of a terror attack," he added.
He said the force was working alongside the Metropolitan Police's counter terrorism officers.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke, who has responsibility for terrorism throughout the UK, was travelling to Glasgow.
Police forces across the country are on high alert after the national terrorism threat level was increased to critical.
One member of the public received a leg injury as a result of the attack but there were no other casualties.
Flights suspended
About 2,300 passengers are being coached from Glasgow Airport to a reception centre at the SECC, where they will be reunited with friends and family.
A spokesman for BAA Scotland said Glasgow Airport was still closed and all flights remained suspended.
The terminal was not expected to open until Sunday morning at the earliest.
Passengers are being advised not to travel to the airport.
Anyone due to fly overnight, or during Sunday, should confirm the status of their flight with their airline, before leaving for the airport.
Chief Constable Rae appealed to about 20 to 30 people who were outside the terminal building at the time of the attack to come forward.
He also asked the public to be extremely vigilant and urged anyone with information about the attacks to phone the police incident room on 0800 056 0944 .
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/scotland/6257846.stmPublished: 2007/06/30 22
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