Newly released Scottish Government papers reveal that First Minister John Swinney warned police chiefs of the risk of a "lone wolf" terror attack in Scotland, raising concerns about attackers who could strike "without prior intelligence". The talks, held on 1 May, came just 48 hours after two Jewish men were stabbed in Golders Green, London, an attack that heightened fears of rising anti-Semitism and prompted a major counter-terrorism response. The disclosure underlines concern at the highest levels of the Scottish Government about lone-actor extremism, a form of terrorism that is notoriously difficult for intelligence agencies to detect before it happens.

Minutes of the meeting, attended by Chief Constable Jo Farrell and other senior officers, show Police Scotland reported an "uptick" in the level and complexity of threat activity, while the UK-wide terror threat level remained "substantial". Officials said the response would rely on vigilance, intelligence-sharing and early identification of concerning behaviour, with schools, health services and other public bodies expected to help spot warning signs. The Golders Green attack led to three attempted murder charges against a 45-year-old man, and figures from the Community Security Trust recorded 1,926 anti-Semitic incidents across the UK between January and June, up almost a fifth on the previous year.