Edinburgh, Scotland: Police Scotland charged a 36-year-old man after five men were injured in suspected Edinburgh anti-Muslim attacks on Friday night, officials said Saturday.
The force said officers arrested a white Scottish man after emergency calls reported threats, robbery, vandalism and violent attacks across the Scottish capital in the United Kingdom.
Police said the charges relate to several incidents on June 19, 2026. A report went to the Procurator Fiscal, and the suspect will appear in court in due course.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on X that the suspect “appears to be motivated by anti-Muslim hatred.” He called the attacks “absolutely appalling” and said the suspect would face the law.
🚨 BREAKING: A 36-year-old white Scottish man is being investigated by Counter Terrorism Police after five people were stabbed in Edinburgh
He said after his arrest: "I'm protecting the country from these fucking Muslim bastards raping our young daughters" pic.twitter.com/ssrecw0hgi
— Politics UK (@PolitlcsUK) June 20, 2026Police Scotland said the injured men were aged 22, 22, 24, 27 and 39. Three went to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The force said there was no further threat to the public. Counter-terrorism officers and other investigators were examining the incidents, according to police.
A 36-year-old man has been arrested after a series of violent attacks across Edinburgh, appearing to target Muslims, which left five people injured.
Sky's Phoebe Southworth reports.https://t.co/f6CKY2c2bl
📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/c4GGX5T0OH
— Sky News (@SkyNews) June 20, 2026Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney said he was “deeply concerned.” He said violence, racism and intolerance had no place in Scotland.
The Scottish Association of Mosques and Muslim Engagement and Development said several victims were Muslims. Mend urged police to treat the case as Islamophobic, far-right terror.
Read: UK Sets New Anti-Muslim Hostility Definition
The BBC reported that it understood the attacks began near a mosque. Police said two men were first attacked in west Edinburgh before three others were injured elsewhere.
