Man charged over Edinburgh attacks as PM condemns anti-Muslim hate crime | UK | News
A man has been charged in connection with a series of attacks in Edinburgh on Friday that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said were motivated by “anti-Muslim hatred”.
Police Scotland said: “A 36-year-old man has been charged in connection with a series of incidents in Edinburgh on Friday 19 June 2026.
“A report has been submitted to the financial prosecutor’s office and the person will appear in court in due course.”
Counter-terrorism officers were deployed to investigate a series of violent incidents in Edinburgh on Friday, and Police Scotland confirmed the arrest of a 36-year-old white Scottish man. Police confirmed there was no further threat to the public.
Police teams were dispatched to the area after an incident in which two people were injured in the Sighthill district of the city at around 20.50 on Friday. Police later received additional reports of incidents targeting retailers in the west and north of the city. Daily Log.
Five men, two aged 22, the others aged 24, 27 and 39, suffered various injuries. Three required hospital treatment, but none of the injuries are life-threatening.
Five injured as ‘knife-wielding’ man attacks Edinburgh (Image: Facebook/Edinburgh Live)
Many of the victims were Muslims, according to the organization Muslim Participation and Development (Mend).
Sharing a photo of a bare-chested man carrying a large gun to X, Sir Keir Starmer wrote: “Absolutely appalling. No one should be subjected to violence on our streets.”
“The suspect appears to be motivated by anti-Muslim hatred. I will not tolerate this; he will face the full force of the law. My thoughts are with those injured and I thank the police and emergency services for their response.”
Images circulating on social media depict a bare-chested white man wandering the streets of Edinburgh with a large gun, while a separate clip shows a man banging on the door of a pizzeria with a hammer.
As events progressed, police cordoned off Leith Walk on Friday evening; Additional footage showed a shirtless man being restrained by a police officer as he lay on the ground and shouted that he was “protecting the country.”
Scottish First Minister John Swinney also condemned the violence in an online post on
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood described herself as “horrified” by the violence, which appeared to be “stemmed by anti-Muslim hatred”, while Police Scotland Deputy Chief Constable Catriona Paton expressed her thoughts for those injured and those most directly affected, describing the incident as “shocking”. Ms Mahmood said she was “grateful” to the police and emergency services “for their bravery in apprehending the suspect and their rapid response to the victims”.
He also said: “There is no room for hatred and violence against Muslims. I know that is not who we are as a country.”
Deputy Chief Constable Paton said: “I want to send a clear message of support to all our communities that there is no place for racism or faith-based hatred in Scotland, which is at its best when we stand together. “Officers responded to multiple reports of a fast-moving series of events in Edinburgh before arresting a man and public safety was our priority.
“Extensive work continues to create all the conditions.”
Police have charged a man following a “series of incidents” around Edinburgh in which four people were injured. It comes after posts emerged on social media showing a man with a knife in the street after police closed Leith Walk on Friday. (Image: Edward Hughes /PA Wire)
The force works alongside Counter Terrorism Policing and operates under the direction of the Crown Office and the Procurator Fiscal Service. He continued: “I would like to thank our officers who responded with courage, professionalism and focus on protecting the public.
“I am extremely grateful for the support and assistance from our communities and would urge anyone with any information to share it with police.”
The Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP) has been established to allow the public to submit information directly to officers. Police are urging anyone with relevant information to upload it via an online form.
Scottish Government Justice Secretary Neil Gray said: “These attacks were horrific and my thoughts are with those injured and affected by them. “As Police Scotland have said, there is no place for racism or faith-based hatred in Scotland.
“They have also confirmed that a man has been arrested, there is no threat to the public and inquiries are ongoing. I would encourage anyone with information to contact the police. This was clearly a very serious incident and I thank the emergency services for their bravery and skill in bringing the incident under control.”
