A man went on a fast-moving rampage across Edinburgh on Friday night, attacking five men in what police are investigating as anti-Muslim hate crimes. Counterterrorism officials have joined the investigation.
The attacks began just before 9 p.m. near a mosque in Edinburgh, where two men were injured. The suspect, a 36-year-old Scottish man, then allegedly attacked three other men in a separate part of the city. None of the victims, who range in age from 22 to 39, have life-threatening injuries. Three were taken to hospitals.
The suspect also allegedly attacked a car at a gas station, which was found with its windows smashed out and an axe inside. He was seen pushing down shelves inside the station's market. Surveillance video captured him allegedly attacking someone outside a pizzeria with a weapon, and social media videos showed further incidents in other areas of the city, according to BBC News.
Police Scotland arrested the man around 9:30 p.m. When taken into custody, he allegedly told police he was "protecting the country," BBC News reported. He remained in custody as of the reports.
"Officers responded to multiple reports of a fast-moving sequence of events across Edinburgh before arresting a man, and public safety was our priority," Police Scotland said in a statement.
Assistant Chief Constable Catriona Paton described the events as deeply serious. "This was a shocking attack, and my first thoughts are with those who were injured and most directly affected," Paton said. "I want to send a clear message of support to all our communities that there is no place for racism or faith-based hate in a Scotland which is at its best when we stand together."
Paton also confirmed the scope of the ongoing response. "Extensive work is ongoing to establish all the circumstances," she said. "We are being supported by Counter Terrorism Policing and working under the direction of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service."
The Muslim Council of Britain condemned the attack and said the community is "rightly nervous and worried." The council placed the incident in a broader context, stating: "This incident comes not long after racist pogroms on the streets of Belfast that targeted minority families and is a direct consequence of political rhetoric that demonises entire communities." The council urged community members to stay vigilant, look out for one another, and report any Islamophobic hate crimes to police.
The investigation remains active with counterterrorism officers assisting Police Scotland as they work to establish the full circumstances of the attacks.
