Taxi and Uber rider targeted in suspected anti-Muslim attacks in Edinburgh, say witnesses | Scotland

Witnesses to alleged knife attacks on Muslims and others in Edinburgh on Friday described seeing a taxi and an Uber bike courier targeted in Leith.

Suspected attacks on Muslims and people of color began near a mosque in Edinburgh’s west, followed by incidents in Leith Walk in the east of the city.

Late on Saturday night police confirmed that a 38-year-old white Scottish man had been charged over a series of incidents and that five men, aged between 22 and 39, had been injured, four of whom were taken to hospital for treatment.

Police Scotland said its counter-terrorism unit was involved in the investigation, which also included allegations of threats, robbery and vandalism, but had not yet declared the incident a terrorist incident.

On Sunday afternoon, around 100 local people, including several MSPs, councilors and activists from the Living Rent tenants union and the Scottish Green party, gathered on Leith Walk near the venue for a hastily organized rally.

Climate activist Nat Gorodnitski, who organized the demonstration, said the aim of the demonstration was to prove that the attack was an aberration. “My hope is that everyone who lives in the area, who is afraid to leave their home, who doesn’t feel safe, will say ‘you are safe, you belong here’.”

Hasan Eren, owner of Best Kebab House in Leith Walk, said he and his colleagues were at the Victoria pub near the scene of the alleged street attacks at around 9.30pm on Friday evening. Many locals were gathering to watch Scotland’s World Cup match against Morocco.

Footage on social media showed a bare-chested white man brandishing a bladed device, kicking and slamming the door of the Origano pizza restaurant as pedestrians dispersed, prompting staff to lower the remote-controlled shutters.

Eren recalled seeing the attacker attack a mini-taxi, kicking it, and then appearing to chase pedestrians with a gun before throwing a metal object and breaking one of the taxi’s windows, frightening the passenger.

The attacker then allegedly attacked an Uber bike courier with some sort of bladed weapon, striking him several times. Eren said he and other witnesses shouted at the alleged attacker and pressured him to stop and leave the cyclist alone.

Eren, originally from north London, said he had run Best Kebab House for 20 years and had never witnessed this level of violence in the area. “I love Leith, mate,” he said. “I’ve been through a lot of fights, but nothing like this.”

The alleged attacker was detained by police carrying a stun gun; Eren said that when the police arrived, the suspect allegedly threw the knife, fell to the ground, laid down on the road with his hands behind his head, and did not resist arrest.

Footage on social media shows him shouting “I’m protecting the country.”

Another local man, 53-year-old Kenny, who declined to give his full name, said he saw police restraining the suspect on the road. “Everyone is a little confused about this,” he said. “It’s a very well-integrated community. There’s a problem with drugs – it dates back to the ’80s – but they’re mostly harmless… they’re multinational. There are people from all kinds of countries and backgrounds here.”

Ava, 22, who works at Origano’s nearby sister restaurant and is originally from Leeds, said: “As a woman of colour, it’s scary to see how hate is being whipped up. Everything that’s going on in Belfast and Southport is the ease with which these people express right-wing and horribly racist views.”

Police Scotland said initial reports were received of two men injured in the Sighthill area near Broomhouse mosque and both were taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. Three men were later injured on Telford Road on Crewe Toll, also in the west of the city, and then on Leith Walk.

Footage from West Edinburgh also shows another minicab allegedly attacked during the incident. A further incident was reported in Craigleith, north of Edinburgh, where a motorist allegedly hit a food delivery boy on a bike and then chased him with a large knife.

John Swinney will meet members of Edinburgh’s Muslim community on Monday. “There is no place for race-based or faith-based violence in Scotland,” the Prime Minister said on Sunday. “My thoughts are with everyone affected – the victims, but also the communities who are understandably victimised. [made] “We’re worried about what’s going on.”

Swinney said people should “unite to fully condemn” the “heinous” attacks. He said allegations of anti-Muslim hate were “disgusting” and added: “We must not allow recent attempts to divide us by stoking fear.

“Everyone who lives in Scotland, those who are born here and those who decide to make Scotland their home, represent the Scottish values ​​of hope, tolerance and solidarity. These are values ​​that must be valued, nurtured and protected. We must all come together to ensure this.

“I want to reassure communities that my government will lead from the front in combating all forms of violence, division and prejudice.”

Ben Macpherson, Scottish National Party’s Edinburgh North Eastern and Leith MSP, said: “What happened on Friday was truly shocking and our thoughts are with the people who were injured. [but] Leith is a place of pluralism and different nationalities, ethnicities and religions; “We will not let this situation disrupt or distract from that.”

Kate Nevens, Scottish Greens MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, said: “I love this neighbourhood, there’s so much love and generosity. Obviously this is a terrible thing to happen anywhere, but it really feels like it’s hitting the heart of Edinburgh.”