Scottish police arrest man over Edinburgh attacks

Scottish police said on Sunday they had charged a 36-year-old man in connection with a series of attacks in Edinburgh on Friday. The statement confirmed that a report has been submitted to the procurator fiscal, and the individual will appear in court. On Saturday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that the attacks appeared to be motivated by "anti-Muslim hatred." Starmer condemned the incidents as "absolutely appalling" and vowed that the suspect would face the full force of the law. Scotland's First Minister John Swinney also condemned the attacks, emphasizing that there is no place for violence, racism, or intolerance in the country.

On Friday, police responded to reports of "violent attacks including threats, robbery and vandalism" across the city. Counterterrorism police launched a probe into the incidents. The major Leith Walk road connecting the city center to the Leith coastal suburb was closed. British media reported that the attacks appeared to have begun near a mosque in western Edinburgh and continued through other parts of the city. Social media footage showed a shirtless man walking with a weapon, and another video showed him being restrained by police while shouting about "protecting the country." Five people were injured, including three who required hospital treatment. The attacks come amid a wave of anti-Muslim and anti-migrant sentiment in Britain, including riots in Belfast and other cities.