Doctors reacted with horror yesterday to the conviction of a medical colleague in the Glasgow terror attack case.

Doctors reacted with horror yesterday to the conviction of a medical colleague in the Glasgow terror attack case.

Consultant surgeon Dr Ameir al Mukhtar, who now works in Orkney, said Iraqi medical professionals in the UK had been deeply affected.

Dr Ameir al Mukhtar told the BBC: "After the attack against a civilian airport and innocent people in Glasgow there was a bit of a phobic reaction against overseas doctors, including some European but mainly Iraqi doctors.

"A few doctors were questioned about their background and asked about some of their connections and relationships with people like Bilal Profiles and information was sought by authorities both administrative and also the Special Branch.

"I have not heard of major harassment, but there was an atmosphere which did create difficulties for some of those doctors."

He said that the fact that Abdulla worked in the medical profession shocked people, Dr Al-Mukhtar said: "It definitely shocked us all. Bilal was an anomaly rather than the norm."

Leaders of the Muslim community in Scotland yesterday welcomed the conviction.

Osama Saeed, chief executive of The Scottish-Islamic Foundation, said the anger Muslims felt over the war in Iraq was no justification for violence. He said: "The verdict is very welcome and I hope that Abdulla goes down for a very long time indeed. I still feel the anger at his actions at how anyone could dare launch a terror attack here in Glasgow.

"I was at the very door that the Jeep Cherokee hit only an hour beforehand with my children. Terrorism has no boundaries on who can possibly be killed."

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