On Friday evening, five men were injured in a series of knife attacks in Edinburgh that appeared to target Muslims and people of colour. Four of the injured were taken to hospital. The 38-year-old suspect, a white Scottish man, was due to appear in court in Edinburgh on Monday.
Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney visited the Broomhouse Mosque, near where the attacks are believed to have begun, and spoke with some of the victims. “They are not only physically injured but also deeply traumatized by the attack,” Swinney told the PA news agency. He said he came to express the solidarity of the Scottish government and Scotland’s political leadership with the affected community. The incident could have “enormous consequences for the cohesion of our community,” he added.
The attacks occurred at at least six locations across the city. Two men were stabbed around 8:30 p.m. as they left the Broomhouse Mosque. A taxi was damaged with an axe at a petrol station. Around 9:30 p.m., three people were injured on Leith Walk, where a man attacked a pizza restaurant before being arrested. The five injured men are aged between 22 and 39. The suspect is reported to have shouted as police arrived that he was trying to protect his country.
Source: www.theguardian.com
