AN Assistant Chief Constable of Strathclyde Police was applauded after he told a Muslim audience that two men suspected of the Glasgow Airport car bombing were not from Scotland.

AN Assistant Chief Constable of Strathclyde Police was applauded after he told a Muslim audience that two men suspected of the Glasgow Airport car bombing were not from Scotland.

John Neilson said: "The people we have in custody came to Scotland a short while ago to seek work.

"Other than that, I can't tell you - but I'm sure the community in Glasgow, in particular, will be reassured. These are not your young people."

The officer was one of several speakers at a gathering at Glasgow's Central Mosque, where leaders of the Muslim community pondered the implications of the airport attack.

He told the gathering: "Scottish people are appalled at what has happened at Glasgow Airport.

"Scottish people who know the Muslim community are aware that is not what we recognise as actions of Muslims. That's what we recognise as the action of criminals who don't care who they damage, maim or kill."

First Minister Alex Salmond was among the speakers.

He told them: "Scotland as a whole values this community. And this community values Scotland."

Mr Salmond also declared business would go on as usual in Scotland.

"We are not going to be dislocated or distracted,"

he said. "It will be business as usual in our communities, our airports, our trains, our economy, our shops. That is the right way to respond to this sort of outrage."

Among the speakers was Glasgow Central MP Mohammad Sarwar, who made a fierce denunciation of those who committed "barbaric" acts.

Mr Sarwar praised the work of police, emergency services and bystanders who had helped at the scene.

The MP said: "I am relieved those people are not Scottish, because we have a proud reputation in the world for having excellent race relations among the many communities."

The Muslim community was said by one of its leaders to be "seething with anger" over the attacks.

Osama Saeed, Scottish spokesman for the Muslim Association of Britain, said he was at Glasgow Airport with his two young children picking up relatives shortly before the attack.

"These terrorists do not care who they kill," he said. "We are seething with anger about this."

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said events like the Glasgow Airport attack were a crime against everyone.

"It transcends race, class, ethnicity, whatever," he said.

"It is a crime against humanity, not a crime against individuals - that is what we have to look at."