Police have stepped up patrols at mosques in Scotland after the New Zealand shootings that left 49 dead.

There is no specific threat but officers will be working to reassure and engage with communities of all faiths, Police Scotland said.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon expressed solidarity with the Muslim community after attackers opened fire at two mosques in Christchurch during Friday prayers.

The SNP MSP visited a number of mosques across Scotland on Friday in support.

On Friday evening The Muslim Council of Scotland held a vigil at the Buchanan Galleries steps to following the terrorist attack.

Hundreds of people gathered on Buchanan Street as the crowds were addressed.

The SNP's Humza Yousaf and Sandra White, as well as Labour's Pauline McNeill and Richard Leonard, were joined by prominent members of Scotland's religious communities in condemning the attack.

Zara Mohammed, an executive member of the organising group, said: "We had an outcry from the community and a need for reassurance that in Scotland we stand together with all victims in New Zealand.

"People were anxious and wanted to renew that spirit in the UK that we challenge hate, call this terrorist activity out and won’t let it define what we think as a society is acceptable.

"It’s a great symbol that Glasgow has a brilliant multicultural spirits we don’t allow divisions of hate to stop us coming together.

"It's heartwarming as a minority group that everyone is coming to support us and is reflective of that Scottish spirit we all share."

Politicians across Scotland expressed their horror at the attacks and Holyrood Presiding Officer, Ken Macintosh, said the Parliament would be flying flags at half-mast.

Faith leaders also joined the vigil to condemn the killings.

Philip Mendelssohn of Interfaith Glasgow said: "It is so hard to understand what motivates people to pick up guns and kill people in cold blood. On behalf of all Interfaith Glasgow I express my sympathy with Muslims in Christchurch and the world over.

"We need to redouble our efforts to facilitate understanding between all faiths and none."

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf tweeted a picture of Glasgow Central Mosque and said: “Go (to) Friday prayers every week, today feels different, already talking to worshippers who feel shaken, who know this attack wasn’t in a vacuum but hatred has gone unchecked, even encouraged by those who should know better.”

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said: "I want to send my condolences to the families and friends of those slaughtered in Christchurch.

"We are, in the end, a common humanity and we need to live as community, root out, chase out and end the toxic racism we have seen today in New Zealand."

Scottish Green Party co-convener Patrick Harvie wrote: “The world must unite against such vicious far right hate; tolerating its presence in our society and in our politics has become normalised, and must end.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie described the attack as “sickening”.

Detective Chief Constable Will Kerr said: “We are monitoring events in New Zealand closely and send our condolences to all those affected.

“We stand together with all our communities and partners here and overseas, and will continue to work with them to counter the threat no matter where it comes from.

“Today we will be stepping up reassurance patrols around mosques and increasing engagement with communities of all faiths, advising on how people and places can protect themselves.”