Starmer condemns the Edinburgh attack
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has condemned a series of suspected anti-Muslim attacks in Edinburgh that left five men injured, saying the suspect appeared to be motivated by “hatred against Muslims” and would face the full force of the law.Starmer wrote on website
A 36-year-old man has since been charged in connection with multiple incidents that occurred across the Scottish capital on Friday.
What happened?
Police Scotland said officers were first called to an incident in the Sighthill area of Edinburgh at around 8.50pm on Friday, where two men were injured near a mosque.The attacks then spread to several locations in the west and north of the city, prompting a major police response. Authorities described the events as a rapid series of events.Five men – two aged 22 and others aged 24, 27 and 39 – suffered a range of injuries.
Three of them required hospital treatment, although police said none of the injuries were life-threatening.
Violence trails throughout the city
Footage circulated on social media showed a shirtless man carrying a large weapon and causing damage in multiple locations.At a petrol station on Telford Road, the windows of a taxi were left smashed, while CCTV from another petrol station on Ferry Road showed a man entering the kiosk and knocking the shelves to the ground.In Leith Walk, staff at a pizza restaurant lowered security shutters when the suspect repeatedly struck the entrance with a weapon. Other videos showed members of the public fleeing as the man moved through the area.Ultimately, the suspect was arrested by armed officers. Police forces equipped with electric stun guns confronted him and arrested him, although the devices were not discharged.
Counter-terrorism officers join the investigation
Police Scotland confirmed that counter-terrorism officers are assisting in the investigation and that the force is working under the supervision of the Crown Office and Prosecution Service.On Saturday evening, police announced that a 36-year-old man had been charged in connection with these incidents.The force said: “A report has been submitted to the prosecutor, and the person will appear before court in due course.”
Leaders condemn suspected hate attack
Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney said he was “deeply concerned” by the violence. “There is no place for violence, racism or bigotry in our country,” he wrote on X.
Assistant Chief Constable Catriona Paton described the events as a “shocking attack” and stressed that “there is no place for racism or religious hatred” in Scotland.
Islamist groups raise concern
Community organizations said that many of the victims were from the Muslim community. The Scottish Mosque Association reported that Muslims and members of ethnic minority communities had been targeted, while the Muslim Council of Britain said the community was “genuinely stressed and concerned” in the wake of the events.Police urged anyone with information about the attacks to come forward as investigations continue.
