Man charged after series of attacks across Edinburgh

Police Scotland says a 36-year-old man has been charged after a fast-moving series of violent incidents across Edinburgh on Friday, June 19, that left five men injured.

Officers said there is no further threat to the public. The case has been reported to the Procurator Fiscal, and the accused is expected to appear in court in due course.

Counter-terrorism officers are involved in the investigation. Police have not, in the reporting reviewed, formally labeled the case as terrorism, but the suspected motive has been widely discussed in relation to anti-Muslim hatred.

What happened

The first callout came to the Sighthill area at about 8.50pm, when two men were injured and taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, according to reporting reviewed by The Guardian.

Police then linked that incident to a rapid sequence of further reports elsewhere in the city. Guardian and AP reporting said later incidents included attacks near Broomhouse mosque, Telford Road and Leith Walk.

The accounts reviewed describe two worshippers being attacked after leaving the Broomhouse mosque, followed by three other men being allegedly attacked in separate parts of the city.

AP and Guardian coverage identified the injured men as aged 22, 22, 24, 27 and 39. Police said three of the men required hospital treatment, and none of the injuries were life-threatening.

Investigation and response

Police Scotland said officers were being supported by Counter Terrorism Policing as they continued to examine the circumstances.

Assistant Chief Constable Catriona Paton said there was no place for racism or faith-based hate in Scotland. She also said the force had submitted a report to prosecutors.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the suspect appears to have been motivated by anti-Muslim hatred. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she was horrified by the violence and said there is no place for hatred and violence against Muslims.

Community concern

The incidents have alarmed Muslim communities in Scotland, with local and national groups voicing concern about the safety of worshippers and the wider community.

The Scottish Association of Mosques and Muslim Engagement and Development have both been cited in reporting as raising concerns, but the formal motive determination remains a matter for investigators and prosecutors.

What happens next

The next expected step is a court appearance for the accused. Police and the Crown Office are expected to continue reviewing evidence and the exact charges.

Questions remain over whether prosecutors will treat the case as a hate crime, terrorism-related, or neither. Investigators are also expected to keep collecting witness material and public footage through the major incident portal.