Prime Minister Keir Starmer says ‘the suspect seems to be motivated by anti-Muslim hatred’.
Printed On 21 Jun 2026
Police in Scotland have charged a person in reference to a collection of assaults in Edinburgh that UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer mentioned gave the impression to be motivated by anti-Muslim hatred.
Police mentioned on Saturday {that a} 36-year-old Scottish man had been arrested on Friday and “charged in reference to quite a lot of incidents which passed off in Edinburgh on Friday, 19 June, 2026”. 5 males have been wounded within the assaults.
Footage posted on-line confirmed a bare-chested man roaming the streets of Edinburgh with a big weapon, whereas one other clip appears to indicate a person battering the door of a pizzeria.
One other video appeared to indicate a shirtless man on the bottom shouting that he’s “defending the nation” as he’s held by an officer.
Police have been referred to as on Friday night to a report of an incident within the Sighthill space of town, the place two males have been injured.
Police mentioned they then acquired reviews about incidents round retailers throughout the west and north of town.
The drive mentioned that in this era, three different males have been allegedly attacked within the Telford Highway and Leith Stroll space.
The victims, aged between 22 and 39, suffered varied accidents, with three requiring hospital therapy for wounds not thought of life-threatening, police mentioned.
Police Scotland Assistant Chief Constable Catriona Paton mentioned it was a “stunning” incident.
“I need to ship a transparent message of assist to all our communities that there is no such thing as a place for racism or faith-based hate in Scotland, which is at its finest once we stand collectively,” she mentioned.
“The suspect seems to be motivated by anti-Muslim hatred. I can’t tolerate this – he’ll face full drive of the legislation,” Starmer mentioned.
Scottish First Minister John Swinney additionally condemned the violence in an internet publish on X, saying: “I’m deeply involved by these incidents. There isn’t any place for violence, racism or intolerance in our nation. I met neighborhood teams final week to guarantee them of the sturdy assist of the Authorities.”
The Scottish Affiliation of Mosques mentioned two of the victims have been attacked after prayers, whereas the Muslim Council of Britain mentioned the neighborhood was “rightly anxious” and criticised “political rhetoric that demonises a complete neighborhood”.
Dwelling Secretary Shabana Mahmood mentioned that she was “horrified by information of the assault in Edinburgh.
“There isn’t any place for hatred and violence in opposition to Muslims,” she mentioned. “I do know it isn’t who we’re as a rustic.”
