Nicola Sturgeon: Army ‘not necessary’ in Scotland after Manchester attack

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon joins colleagues in observing a minute's silence to remember the victims of the terror attack in Manchester earlier this week (Jane Barlow/PA Wire)

SOLDIERS were not needed on Scotland’s streets in the wake of the Manchester atrocity because police numbers were not slashed north of the Border, Nicola Sturgeon has claimed.

When the terror threat was last week raised to “critical” – meaning a strike could be imminent – the army was called in to guard potential terror targets in England.

But the First Minister said the same extraordinary measure was not taken in Scotland because Chief Constable Phil Gormley had enough armed officers at his disposal to protect Scots.

Ms Sturgeon said: “This week, the Chief Constable was very clear that he was able to provide the level of police cover, including armed police cover, at a time of the increased threat level from Police Scotland’s resources.

“Therefore, he did not feel it necessary to call on army assistance.

“We have seen in Scotland, over the last year or so, significant efforts to increase the number of officers that are trained to use firearms.

“We are now approaching 600 officers that have firearms training and that makes it possible for Police Scotland to provide significantly increased cover without the need for army assistance.

She added: “It was a horrific attack. All terrorist attacks are horrific but I think there is something about an attack which is clearly intended to kill children and young people that makes it all the more horrifying.

“The Manchester attack will be engraved on the UK’s consciousness for a long, long time to come because of that.”

“It is important that we don’t let the terrorists prevail.”