A project developed to protect some of the world's biggest cities from a terrorist attack will begin in Glasgow next week.

The initiative - dubbed Project Griffin - is designed to give workers the expertise to spot possible terror threats.

Staff from city centre stores, bars and clubs, hotels, the finance sector, universities and offices can take part in the counter-terrorism awareness training next Tuesday.

The primary mission is to deter, detect and counter terrorist activity and crime.

Previous terror attacks on congested areas include the Glasgow Airport attack in 2007, the 2005 bombings in London, the Boston Marathon bombing and the recent Kenya mall attacks.

However, senior officers stress there is no specific threat to Glasgow.

Specialist officers will train staff, including security guards, to deal with a host of different emergencies, including an "active shooter" and bomb alert. Workers will receive training on procedures to deal with possible bombs and how to spot suspicious behaviour, and how to treat suspicious packages.

Chief Inspector Alan Porte, area commander for the city centre, said: "Project Griffin is aimed at city centre businesses and venues.

"It will provide them with an awareness of the terrorist threat and to help them help us keep people safe."

Those behind the project claim the training will help police fight any threat by "engaging, encouraging and enabling members of the community" to work with officers.

Chief Inspector Porte added: "This exercise is part of a long-term education programme to reduce vulner­ability and heighten public safety."

Firearms officers, detectives and specialist security advisers will take part in the training session, which is part of an continuing initiative,

Police in London introduced the system in 2004, following the 2001 terror attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York.

Since then, Project Griffin has been extended across the UK and countries such as America, Canada and Australia.

Glasgow City Council officials have backed the counter-terrorism initiative.

A spokesman said: "Project Griffin will play an important role in keeping the people and businesses of Glasgow informed on counter-terrorism and crime prevention issues.

"Any initiative that helps to protect our communities from terrorism, extrem- ism and crime is to be welcomed."

rebecca.gray@ eveningtimes.co.uk