On a Friday evening in Edinburgh, a man allegedly carried out a series of attacks that left five people injured, two with multiple stab wounds. When Lewis Hawkes appeared in court, he was charged with five counts of attempted murder — but the charges came with an extra label: “aggravated by reason of having a terrorist connection.” That phrase isn't used for every violent crime. It marks a case that the Crown Prosecution Service believes is linked to terrorism, and it shifts how the legal system handles the suspect.
What exactly does that mean? In UK law, a crime can be treated as terrorism if it is committed to advance a political, religious, racial, or ideological cause, and is designed to influence the government or intimidate the public. The Terrorism Act 2000 defines terrorism broadly, covering actions that involve serious violence against a person, serious damage to property, or actions that endanger life, if they meet that motivation and intent test. When prosecutors add a terrorism “aggravation” to a charge, it signals that the offence was motivated by such aims. For attempted murder, a terrorism aggravation can lead to a longer sentence — up to life imprisonment — and different remand conditions.
“What terrorism charges mean in UK law, using the Edinburgh attacks as an example.”
Why do these charges exist? The UK has a long history of dealing with terrorism, from the Irish Republican Army (IRA) campaigns to Islamist extremist attacks and, more recently, far-right violence. The legal framework was strengthened after the 9/11 attacks and the 2005 London bombings. Prosecutors now use terrorism charges for a range of ideologies, including anti-Muslim hatred. In this Edinburgh case, Police Scotland said the attacks began near Broomhouse Mosque at about 20:30, just after prayers. Two men were stabbed multiple times. Later, a taxi was vandalised and a petrol station targeted. Video footage showed a bare-chested man wielding large knives on Leith Walk, chasing people and attacking a delivery driver. First Minister John Swinney called the events a “wake-up call” and said he was “terrified” that intolerance is being “legitimised.”
For UK readers, understanding terrorism charges is important because they reflect how the state responds to hate-driven violence. The threshold for adding a terrorist aggravation is high — it requires evidence of a specific ideological motive. This matters for public safety, sentencing, and the resources allocated to investigations. Counter-terror officers lead the case, as they did in Edinburgh. It also affects bail decisions: Hawkes was remanded in custody. The charges send a message about society’s condemnation of such acts, but they also raise questions about how the law balances security with civil liberties.
Q: What does “aggravated by reason of having a terrorist connection” mean? It means the crime was motivated by a political, religious, racial, or ideological cause, and was intended to influence the government or intimidate the public. In Scottish law, this aggravation can increase the maximum sentence and changes how the case is handled.
Q: What is the legal definition of terrorism in the UK? Under the Terrorism Act 2000, terrorism includes serious violence against a person, damage to property, or endangering life, if it is designed to advance a political, religious, racial, or ideological cause and is intended to influence the government or intimidate the public.
Q: How common are terrorism charges for anti-Muslim attacks? They are relatively rare but increasing. Recent years have seen a rise in far-right extremism, and prosecutors have used terrorism laws to charge individuals who target Muslims or other groups. Each case is assessed on its facts.
What happens next? Lewis Hawkes made no plea and was remanded in custody. A further court appearance will be set. Counter-terror officers continue their investigation. The case will test how the legal system applies terrorism laws to anti-Muslim hate crimes, and could set a precedent for similar future incidents.