Man, 36, charged after suspected anti-Muslim attacks in Edinburgh

A 36-year-old man has been charged in connection with a series of suspected anti-Muslim attacks in Edinburgh.

Counter-terrorism officers were brought in to investigate the attacks across the city which left five people injured.

Police Scotland confirmed on Saturday a white Scottish man had been arrested.

A spokesman from the force said: "A 36-year-old man has been charged in connection with a number of incidents which took place in Edinburgh on Friday, June 19 2026."

TRENDING

Stories

Videos

Your Say

The spokesman continued: "A report has been submitted to the procurator fiscal, and the individual will appear at court in due course."

Footage posted online showed a bare-chested white man roaming the streets of Edinburgh with a large weapon, while another clip seemed to show a man battering the door of a pizzeria.

Police closed off Leith Walk on Friday evening as the incidents unfolded and another video appeared to show a topless man on the ground shouting he is "protecting the country" as he is held by an officer.

Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney insisted there is no place for race-based or faith-based violence in the country after receiving a police briefing on the incident

Mr Swinney will meet with members of the Muslim community on Monday.

The First Minister and SNP leader said: "There is no place for race-based or faith-based violence in Scotland.

"My thoughts are with all who have been impacted, the victims but also the communities who are understandably anxious by what happened."

Mr Swinney said people must "stand united in utter condemnation" of the "heinous" attacks that took place in Edinburgh.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

• Counter terror police launch probe after five injured in suspected anti-Muslim incidents across Edinburgh
• Police hate crime adviser sacked after complaining officers avoiding Islamist extremism 'elephant in the room' in meeting about antisemitic terror attacks
• Police force orders officers to keep record of Britons' anti-Islam comments

Mr Swinney added: "Anti-Muslim hatred is abhorrent, and we must not allow recent attempts to stoke fear to divide us,"

“Everyone who lives in Scotland, those that were born here and those that have decided to make Scotland their home, epitomise Scotland’s values of hope, tolerance and solidarity.

"These are values that must be cherished, nurtured and protected. We must all come together to ensure that.

"I am grateful to Police Scotland for the continued work they are undertaking to ensure communities feel safe and supported. I want to reassure communities that my government will lead from the front in tackling all forms of violence, division and prejudice."

On Saturday, the Prime Minister posted on social media, linking to an image of a bare-chested man carrying a large weapon, saying: “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.”

Officers were called to a report of an incident in the Sighthill area of the city, where two men were injured, at around 8.50pm on Friday.

Police said they then received reports about incidents around retailers across the west and north of the city. The force said that during this period three other men were allegedly attacked in the Telford Road and Leith Walk area.

Officers said five men, two aged 22, and others aged 24, 27, and 39, sustained a range of injuries. Three needed hospital treatment, although none of the injuries are life-threatening.

A man who was working at the Shell garage on Telford Road said he, a colleague and a customer heard noise outside and stayed inside the shop and locked the doors as the incident unfolded on Friday evening.

Uday Kiran Naga said: “We closed the door and I locked the door. It was very, very scary. We called the police and I think people outside called the police. The police came very quickly, two or three vehicles.”

It is understood two of the incidents happened near Broomhouse Mosque in the west of Edinburgh.

Owais Ahmed, a member of the management team at the mosque, said: "There is a sense of anxiety and uncertainty in some aspects but people are resilient, and people are looking at it as objectively as they possibly can."

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she was "horrified" by the violence, which appeared "to be motivated by anti-Muslim hatred".

Police Scotland Assistant Chief Constable Ms Paton said it was "shocking" and her thoughts are with those who were injured and most directly affected.

Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter