Man charged after Edinburgh attacks Starmer links to anti-Muslim hatred

Police Scotland has charged a 36-year-old man after five men were injured in a series of incidents across Edinburgh on Friday. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the suspect appeared to have been driven by anti-Muslim hatred, putting the attacks at the center of wider concerns over racist and faith-based violence.

The force said on Saturday that the man, described by police as Scottish, had been arrested on Friday and charged in connection with several incidents in the city on June 19, 2026. Police did not specify the charges in the statement reported by AP, DPA and Reuters.

Police said officers were first called on Friday evening to the Sighthill area after a report of an incident in which two men were hurt. The force said it later received reports involving retailers in west and north Edinburgh.

Police Scotland said three other men were allegedly attacked during the same period in the Telford Road and Leith Walk areas. The five victims were aged between 22 and 39, according to police.

Three of the injured men required hospital treatment, police said. Their wounds were not considered life-threatening, according to the force.

Videos posted online appeared to show a shirtless man moving through Edinburgh streets with a large weapon. Another clip appeared to show a man striking the door of a pizzeria, while a further video appeared to show a shirtless man on the ground shouting that he was “protecting the country” as an officer restrained him.

Assistant Chief Constable Catriona Paton of Police Scotland described the episode as a “shocking” incident. She said there was “no place for racism or faith-based hate in Scotland” and said the country was “at its best when we stand together.”

Starmer said the suspect appeared to be motivated by anti-Muslim hatred. “I will not tolerate this – he will face full force of the law,” the prime minister said.

Scottish First Minister John Swinney also condemned the violence in a post on X. Swinney said he was concerned by the incidents and said there was no place in Scotland for violence, racism or intolerance.

Swinney said he had met community groups the previous week to reassure them of government support. He did not provide further details in the post cited by AP, DPA and Reuters.

The Scottish Association of Mosques said two of the victims were attacked after prayers. The Muslim Council of Britain said the community was “rightly anxious” and criticised what it called “political rhetoric that demonises an entire community.”

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she was “horrified” by the Edinburgh attack. Mahmood said there was no place for hatred and violence against Muslims and added that such conduct was not representative of the country.

This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.