Outrage at the attack on Glasgow Airport echoed across Scotland's Muslim communities, along with determination that it should not damage relations with the wider public.

Religious leaders, police, and politicians stood shoulder-to-shoulder to condemn the incident and praise Muslims' place in Scottish society.

But there was also relief at early reports that neither of the two men arrested was a Scot. At a press conference at Glasgow's Central Mosque, Assistant Chief Constable John Neilson received applause when he informed the audience that the two suspects arrested had travelled recently to Scotland.

He told them: "The people we have in custody came to Scotland a short while ago to seek work. I'm sure the community in Glasgow in particular will be reassured: these are not your young people."

Mr Neilson, who is responsible for community safety within Strathclyde, said Muslims and non-Muslims alike would be "horrified" by the incident on Saturday.

He was joined by First Minister Alex Salmond, who said communities should not be "dislocated or distracted" by the attack. "Scotland as a whole values this community. And this community values Scotland," he said.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill gave more details during a visit to the headquarters of Strathclyde Police. He said: "We have evidence to believe that these people did not emanate from Scotland, apart from some evidence of them having resided here for a period of time. They were not born and bred here."

There was strong praise from both Scottish and London ministers about co-operation over the incident. But some government sources in London suggested that politicians revealing that those involved were not Scots Asians amounted to a security breach.

However, a senior aide to the First Minister insisted last night: "Alex Salmond spoke to the Home Secretary today and there was an understanding that this was an important point that had to be made in terms of reinforcing good community relations in Glasgow."

Strathclyde Police said yesterday there had been only two reports of racist incidents at the weekend, which had both turned out to be minor.

But some Muslim leaders expressed concern that the community would be more at risk to racist attacks. Imam Abdul Ghafoor, one of the spiritual leaders at Glasgow Central Mosque, said he had already heard reports from Asian shopkeepers of verbal abuse and racist graffiti appearing in response to the attempted car bombings.

He said the Muslim community had rejected extremism and was "shocked and horrified" by what had happened. "Just as you do not expect rapists, alcoholics, murderers or people who are abusive to others to come to a mosque, neither do we expect people who create unrest on the street and put people's lives in danger to come here."

Also among the speakers was Mohammad Sarwar, Labour MP for Glasgow Central, who gave a fierce denunciation of those who commit "barbaric" acts.

The same message was given by Osama Saeed, Scottish spokesman for the Muslim Association of Britain, who said Scotland had not witnessed incidents of extremism or sympathy for terrorism. "There has not been a peep of it," he said.

Mr Saeed, who was at Glasgow Airport with his two young children picking up relatives shortly before the attack, stressed that Muslims were at risk from terrorist attacks along with other Scots. "The terrorists do not care who they kill. We are seething with anger about this," he said.

By Damien Henderson