A 36-year-old white Scottish man has been charged in connection with a wave of violent attacks across Edinburgh on Friday that left five men injured, three of them requiring hospital treatment. Police Scotland confirmed the charge late on Saturday night, adding that there was no further threat to the public.
The assaults began around 8.50pm in the Sighthill area, where two men were left injured. Officers then received reports of further incidents targeting retailers in the west and north of the city. The victims – two aged 22, and others aged 24, 27 and 39 – sustained a range of injuries, none of which are considered life-threatening. According to the Muslim Engagement and Development (Mend) group, several of the victims are Muslim.
“Man, 36, charged after five men injured in Edinburgh attacks; counter-terror police involved”
Counter-terrorism officers were called in to investigate the string of incidents. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “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.”
The attacks drew condemnation from Scotland’s political leaders. First Minister John Swinney wrote on X: “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.” Justice Secretary Neil Gray added: “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.”
Police have established a Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP) for the public to submit information directly to officers, and are urging anyone with relevant details to upload them via an online form.