EDINBURGH (REUTERS) - Scotland's devolved parliament will increase security measures with immediate effect following Wednesday's (March 22) attack on Britain's parliament at Westminster in London.

"While there is no intelligence to suggest there is a specific threat to Scotland, Edinburgh or Holyrood (the devolved parliament), we have increased security with immediate effect at the Scottish Parliament as a precaution," parliament's chief executive office said in a statement.

"We are aware of a developing situation at Westminster this afternoon and are monitoring matters very closely," it added.

A debate on authorising a new referendum on Scottish independence was suspended earlier after Wednesday's attack, in which a policeman was stabbed, an assailant shot and several people injured. Police say they are treating it as a terrorist incident.