EDINBURGH (Agencies)- Counterterrorism detectives in Scotland are investigating a series of assaults in Edinburgh that left five men injured and are being treated as suspected anti-Muslim attacks. Police Scotland said a 36-year-old man was arrested late Friday after multiple incidents were reported in the west and north of the city.
The victims, aged 22, 22, 24, 27 and 39, sustained varying injuries, with three requiring hospital treatment. Authorities said none of the injuries were life-threatening.
Muslim community organisations said several victims were Muslims. The Scottish Association of Mosques said two men were attacked after attending prayers at their local mosque, while the Muslim Engagement and Development charity confirmed that a number of those injured belonged to the Muslim community.
Videos shared on social media appeared to show a shirtless man carrying a long weapon and damaging a restaurant door before being restrained by a police officer. In one clip, the suspect could be heard shouting about “protecting the country.”
Assistant Chief Constable Catriona Paton described the incidents as “shocking” and said local officers were being assisted by Counter Terrorism Policing. She stressed that racism and faith-based hatred have no place in Scotland.
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The Muslim Council of Britain said the attacks had left communities “rightly nervous and worried” and warned that divisive political rhetoric can fuel hostility towards minorities.
The incidents are being investigated as possible hate crimes, reflecting growing concerns about anti-Muslim hostility and extremist violence in Britain.
The attacks have heightened anxiety among Muslim communities in Scotland and prompted increased security attention from law enforcement agencies.
Investigators are expected to examine whether the assaults were ideologically motivated and whether additional charges related to hate crime or terrorism are warranted.
The incident is likely to resonate in Pakistan, where concerns over Islamophobia and the safety of Muslim communities abroad frequently attract public and diplomatic attention.
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