Man charged in connection with Edinburgh attacks 'motivated by anti-Muslim hatred'

Man charged in connection with Edinburgh attacks 'motivated by anti-Muslim hatred' Five men, two aged 22, and others aged 24, 27, and 39, sustained a range of injuries and three required hospital treatment following a series of attacks in Edinburgh on Friday - a man has now been charged by police A man has been charged in connection with the attacks in Edinburgh on Friday. Counter-terrorism officers were called in to probe a string of violent incidents across Edinburgh on Friday, with Police Scotland confirming a 36-year-old white Scottish man has now been charged. The force confirmed there is no further threat to the public. Officers were dispatched to reports of an incident in the Sighthill area of the city, where two men were left injured, at approximately 8.50pm on Friday. Police subsequently received further reports of incidents targeting retailers across the west and north of the city. Five men – two aged 22, and others aged 24, 27, and 39 – sustained a range of injuries. Three required hospital treatment, though none of the injuries are considered life-threatening. Several of the victims are Muslim, according to the Muslim Engagement and Development (Mend) organisation. A Police Scotland spokesperson confirmed shortly after 11.30pm on Saturday night: "A 36-year-old man has been charged in connection with a number of incidents which took place in Edinburgh on Friday, 19 June, 2026. A report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal, and the individual will appear at court in due course." Before the man was charged Sir Keir Starmer took to X, sharing an image of a bare-chested man wielding a large weapon, writing: "Absolutely appalling. No one should face 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 who are injured and I thank the police and the emergency services for their response." Scottish First Minister John Swinney also denounced the violence in an online post on X, writing: "I am deeply concerned by these incidents. There is no place for violence, racism or intolerance in our country. I met community groups last week to assure them of the strong support of the Government." A Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP) has been established to enable members of the public to submit information directly to officers. Police are urging anyone with relevant information to upload it via an online form. Scottish Government's Justice Secretary Neil Gray said: "These attacks were awful and my thoughts are with those who were injured and affected by them. As Police Scotland have said, there is no place for racism or faith-based hate in Scotland."