Armed police protecting Edinburgh’s ‘key sites’ in wake of Westminster attack

Holyrood has also been criticised for not suspending Parliament out of respect for the victims


Armed police will be deployed around certain parts of Edinburgh today in response to the attack in Westminster earlier today.

Phil Gormley, the Police Scotland Chief Constable, spoke to Edinburgh Evening News, saying: “We’re putting in place some reassurance measures. We have increase armed patrols around key sites in Edinburgh. There will be armed patrols around key locations in Scotland.

“At the moment, there’s no information to suggest this is anything other than an isolated attack. We’ve put in place what you’d expect in terms of contingencies. We’ve uplifted and deployed a number of armed officers into key places and we’re working very closely with colleagues in London to understand exactly what has happened and what we need to do to support them and keep Scotland safe.

“Our thought and good wishes are with colleagues and members of the public who appear to have been injured and have lost their lives in London.”

Whilst Edinburgh’s police have been quick to respond to the attack, the same cannot be said for the Scottish Parliament, which came under criticism for not immediately suspending Parliament.

A number of MSPs voiced their concerns about the lack of reaction to the news in London.