Gordon Brown starkly reminded colleagues the terrorist threat to the UK recognised no borders as he shared the government's plans with MPs and ministers most closely involved in the narrowly-averted disaster at Glasgow Airport during a private meeting in the House of Commons yesterday.

Shortly before Jacqui Smith, the home secretary, made a statement, the Prime Minister reinforced the need to protect the British way of life - whether it was in Liverpool, London or Glasgow.

Des Browne, the Scottish Secretary, David Cairns, the newly appointed Minister of State in the Scotland Office, Ruth Kelly, the Transport Secretary, Douglas Alexander, International Development Secretary and MP for Paisley & Renfrewshire were all briefed by Mr Brown. MPs Jim Sheridan, Paisley & Renfrewshire North, and John Robertson, Glasgow North West, also joined the meeting.

Flanked by the prime minister and the secretary for justice, Ms Smith vowed the country would not be intimidated by those who wished to destroy our way of life and our freedoms, and did not signal any change in strategy from her predecessors - there was no mention of rushed legislation.

Confirming that a fast-moving investigation was under way, she revealed that as well as one arrest at Glasgow Airport, two in Glasgow, two in Staffordhire and one in Liverpool, searches had been carried out in at least 19 locations.

She disclosed that throughout the UK police had "substantially stepped" up protective security measures, including: high visibility patrols; increased use of stop and search powers for vehicles and pedestrians; and increased physical protection around airport terminal buildings, including tighter controls on access roads and installation of new barriers.

Ms Smith paid tribute to the public, workers and officials who had worked round-the-clock to re-open Glasgow Airport, and she referred to the important talks she had held with Alex Salmond, the First Minister and Kenny MacAskill, the Justice Minister.

She also thanked colleagues in the United States and Europe for their support.

In a statement lasting more than one hour, Ms Smith very delicately dealt with the sensitivities of community relations and avoided linking the attacks in any way with the Muslim community.

She said: "Let us be clear , terrorists are criminals whose victims come from all walks of life, communities and religions. Terrorists attack the values shared by all law- abiding citizens. As a government, as communities, as individuals we need to ensure that the message of the terrorists is rejected.

"I very much welcome the strong messages of condemnation we have heard throughout the weekend from community leaders across the country. It is through our unity that the terrorists will eventually be defeated."

In an unusual outbreak of cross-party unity, David Davis, the Shadow Home Secretary, welcomed the government's response, applauding the Prime Minister and Home Secretary for not reacting with hasty or knee-jerk responses.

However, Nick Clegg, the LibDem's Shadow Home Secretary, voiced a warning that ill-considered legislation could increase alienation and resentment - particularly among those communities "we want on our side".

After the Prime Minister's briefing, David Cairns said: "I shall be working with my colleagues in the Home Office and the department of transport to ensure that the threat from terrorists can be dealt with effectively and British people can be protected."

John Robertson, Glasgow North West MP, congratulated the Emergency and Security services for the work they did in ensuring there were no lives lost in London or Glasgow as a result of the weekend attacks in Haymarket and Glasgow International Airport.