HATE crimes in Scotland have increased by more than 20-per cent since the July 7 terror bombings in London.

Following the attacks, 438 racist incidents were reported last month, 79 more than during the same period last year.

Police said 64 could be directly linked to the bombings because the culprits either racially abused their victims with specific comments or wrote similar slogans.

Crimes motivated by religious or racial hatred rose by 600-per cent in London over the same period.

Peter Wilson, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, praised the public for what he described as its calm response.

"Any racist crime is unacceptable but I am glad to see the number being recorded is relatively low and has not risen sharply as a result of the London bombings."

However, Muslim community leaders said they believed far more incidents were going unreported because of a lack of confidence such complaints were being dealt with properly.

As concern grew in Scotland, there were widespread developments and reactions over the bombings.

A 23-year-old man last night became the first person to be charged in connection with the terror attacks on London.

Ismael Abdurahman, arrested in connection with the July 21 attempted bombings, was charged under section 38 the Terrorism Act 2000.

The attacks prompted the US State Department to alert Americans living in or travelling to Britain to be vigilant and also extra careful in using public transport.

In a statement, the department advised US citizens there was a potential for further terrorist actions that may include bombings, hijackings, hostagetaking, kidnapping and assassination. Terrorists do not distinguish between official and civilian targets, the statement said.

In London, DrZaki Badawi, a moderate London Muslim leader, advised women to stop wearing Islamic veils for safety reasons.

A spate of incidents in Edinburgh culminated last Friday in a hammer attack on two Asian men in the Leith area.

Osama Saeed, of the Muslim Association of Britain in Scotland, said he was convinced the recorded statistics were not an accurate reflection of incidents. He said: "I believe that the true figures will be much higher. We are still having a real problem trying to convince people to come forward because they feel the complaints are not going any further."

Mr Saeed, however, said he believed it unnecessary for Muslim women to stop wearing the hijab, or veil. "It would be tantamount to giving in".

David Davis, shadow home secretary, roused anger when he urged the government to rethink its policy of multiculturalism, saying the Muslim community must do more to integrate into British society.

Mr Saeed challenged Mr Davis, the front-runner to succeed Michael Howard as Tory leader, to elaborate on how Muslims could better integrate.

Ali Jarvis, interim director of the Commission for Racial Equality in Scotland, added:

"Regardless of our ethnic background or faith we are all feeling more vulnerable since July 7 and people from ethnic minority backgrounds have a double fear, not only of being the victims of terrorism but also of being subject to vigilante reprisals."

He warned that "hundreds of small slights, such as edging away from somebody on a bus, can build up to create tension".

Police insisted they treat every race hate crime seriously. Mr Wilson

added: "We encourage everyone to report this type of illegal and dangerous behaviour, from whatever quarter, for full police investigation as we are determined that there will be a very robust enforcement response to it."

He stressed, however, that the public had shown a mature response to the attacks. "The last thing we would have needed in Scotland would have been for our visible minority ethnic communities to have suffered as a result of misguided prejudices.

"It is clear that there is still an increased level of concern and feelings of vulnerability within a number of communities, especially Muslim ones. But it is also clear that there has not been a large upsurge of racist incidents since July 7. My plea to all of our communities is that the level of support and understanding continues."

The Scottish Council for Minorities has also set up a free national helpline - 0800 783 2906 - to provide support for anyone one who might feel frightened, intimidated or who might want to seek advice or information, or report suspicious behaviour.