Scottish Counterterror Police Investigating After 5 Hurt In Apparent Anti-Muslim Attacks In Edinburgh
LONDON (AP) — Counterterrorism detectives Scotland An investigation has been launched after five people were injured in attacks apparently targeting Muslims in Edinburgh, police said on Saturday.
Police Scotland said a 36-year-old man was arrested late on Friday after officers received reports of several attacks in the west and north of the city.
Police said five men, two aged 22 and the others aged 24, 27 and 39, suffered various injuries and three required hospital treatment. None of the injured are life-threatening.
The charity Muslim Engagement and Development said many of those injured were Muslims. The Scottish Association of Mosques said two of the injured were attacked after praying at the local mosque.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the suspect “appeared to have been motivated by anti-Muslim hatred.”
“I will not tolerate this; he will face the full force of the law,” Starmer said in a post on X.
Video posted on social media shows a shirtless man carrying a long gun wandering the street and breaking down the door of a restaurant in the Scottish capital. Another video showed the same man shouting “protect the country” while being held down by a police officer on the ground.
British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she was “horrified by the news of the attack in Edinburgh.”
“There is no room for hatred and violence against Muslims,” he said. “I know this is not who we are as a country.”
The Muslim Council of Britain said in a statement that the Muslim community was “rightfully nervous and concerned”. It said the violence was “a direct result of political rhetoric that demonizes entire communities.”
Deputy Chief Constable Catriona Paton of Police Scotland said it was a “shocking” incident. He said officers were supported by the Counter Terrorism Police.
“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,” he said.
