Armed police are today patrolling the airport and harbour. Their deployment comes as the UK is on critical alert after failed terrorist attacks in London on Thursday and at Glasgow airport on Saturday afternoon.

The Glasgow attack saw a blazing Jeep full of petrol and gas canisters ram the main glass doors of terminal one.

Aurigny Air Services managing director Malcolm Hart, who had been due to fly from Glasgow, drew comparisons between the Scottish airport and Guernsey’s.

Both provide direct access for vehicles to drop off and collect passengers from the terminal buildings, although following the attack the practice has been suspended at Glasgow.

But an airport duty manager insisted Guernsey was no more susceptible to this kind of terrorist attack than any other airport.

‘At the moment we have not stopped the public from dropping off or collecting passengers, but we will continue to assess the situation,’ he said.

‘We are obviously monitoring what’s happening in the UK and are taking advice from the Department of Transport.

‘All the airport staff and security have been told about the additional measures.

‘The main thing is to make sure the public are aware that they need to go about their business and not hang around, otherwise they will be asked to move on quicker than usual.’

Police Chief Inspector Nigel Taylor said there was no specific information to suggest any particular part of the Bailiwick was a target, but another attack in the UK was believed to be imminent.

‘As a consequence, in consultation with both the harbour and the airport authorities, we have deployed armed uniformed officers to patrol both ports to ensure that the public at large are kept safe. This is our utmost priority.

‘These measures are being introduced as part of a national response to the increased threat level.

‘To ensure the safety of the travelling public and to demonstrate that the local ports are not a safe, soft option for terrorist activities, armed officers will remain deployed until threat is reassessed.’