NICOLA Sturgeon has said more armed police will be out on Scotland’s streets following the London terrorist attack.

The First Minister stressed there is “no intelligence of any specific threat” to Scotland, but she urged people to be vigilant.

A BBC Question Time Leaders Special with Sturgeon and Tim Farron was postponed last night to make way for a BBC News special on the London Bridge attack, after political parties stopped General Election campaigning for the day.

The broadcaster said the programme will now be shown tonight at 9pm.

Sturgeon condemned the “despicable and cowardly” attack, adding there was no information currently suggesting any victims are Scottish, but said “it is not yet possible to be definitive about that”.

The First Minister said: “In terms of the Police Scotland response here, it is important to stress that there is no intelligence of any specific threat to Scotland.

“However, the police will ensure appropriate protective security measures are implemented.

“As was the case after the Manchester attack, the public can expect to see a more visible police presence, particularly in busy areas.

“That will include armed police – the number of armed response vehicles on duty today has been increased substantially.

“At what I know is an anxious time, my message to the public is to be vigilant and report anything of sus- picion to the police, but otherwise continue to live your lives as normal.

“Last night’s attack was another reminder of the need to challenge extremism robustly and directly. We must unite as a society to do so.”

Sturgeon added: “I have no doubt that – just as we saw after previous attacks, most recently the attack in Westminster – the people of London will pull together, in all of their diversity, and refuse to be cowed by acts of terrorism.

“As they do so, we stand with them in solidarity and defiance.”

The First Minister told the BBC that a review of the counter- terrorism strategy was “appropriate” in the wake of the London atrocities, which came less than two weeks after the terrorist bombing at the Ariana Grande concert in Manchester.

Sturgeon also chaired a meeting of Scottish Government’s resilience committee, at which it was confirmed that Police Scotland would continue to be active at relevant transport hubs and would work with British Transport Police to ensure any potential witnesses who might be returning to Scotland were identified.

She also had praise for the emergency services, adding: “Last night we saw yet again the bravery, dedic- ation, selflessness and professionalism of the police and of those who work in the NHS and fire service.

“This morning I was briefed by the deputy national security adviser and updated both on what is currently known about the attackers and also on the reasons for the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) decision to keep the security threat level, at this stage, at severe.”

Sturgeon said Saturday’s attack was another reminder of the need to challenge extremism “robustly and directly” and that we had to unite as a society to do so.

“And as we do, it is my view that two important principles must be adhered to,” she said.

“Firstly, we must not allow the terrorists to divide us. And we must not allow any community to be scapegoated for the actions of a violent and mindless minority.

“Those who carry out these attacks in the name of Islam do not speak for that faith. Indeed, their actions are a perversion of Islam.

“It is important to remember that terrorists kill indiscriminately. They do not distinguish their victims on the basis of faith or race.

“A Muslim in this country is far more likely to be the victim of a terrorist attack than a perpetrator of one. We must never forget that – and we must not allow ourselves to be divided.

“Secondly, we must take all possible steps to protect the public. In particular, we must ensure that our police and security services have the resources they need to keep us safe.

“However, we must not allow the freedoms and civil liberties that are an essential part of who we are to be taken away or undermined.”