Counter-terror police investigate Edinburgh attacks targeting Muslim men; suspect charged

Police arrested a man at the scene (Picture: Edward Hughes /PA Wire) The man accused of the Edinburgh knife attacks has been named as Lewis Hawkes after he appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court. Hawkes, 36, appeared at court charged with five counts of attempted murder ‘aggravated by reason of having a terrorist connection’, the Crown Office said. CCTV footage released appeared to show a topless man driving erratically before abandoning his car and lunging at a random black man and delivery rider, while smoking and wielding two large knives. He is alleged to have thrown an axe through the window of a taxi, which the driver managed to avoid by moving his car forwards an inch as it was thrown. Two of the younger injured men had been at Broomhouse mosque just before they were attacked. Sign up for all of the latest stories Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens. ‘I’m protecting the country from these f****g Muslim b******s raping our young daughters, raping our kids. Enough is enough,’ the man was allegedly heard shouting as he was pinned to the floor. First Minister John Swinney and Superintendent Neil Wilson visited Broomhouse Mosque after the arrest (Picture: Rachel Keenan/PA Wire) The incidents left five men – two aged 22, and others aged 24, 27 and 39 – with a range of injuries. Three of the men were taken to hospital and none of the injuries are believed to be life-threatening. Previously, Daniel Gilius, Scotland Regional Manager of Muslim Engagement & Development (MEND) told Metro: ‘Several of the injured are well known to the community, one of whom has family roots across the city. ‘Comments which incite hate and even celebrate violence are becoming part of daily life. Social media platforms continue to prioritise profits over safety and many users have become numb to even the most hateful posts. ‘Islamophobia is nothing new, but one of the most alarming trends in recent months and years is voices whom we would usually expect to call our far-right extremism are fading into silence – or are toning down their words.’ Got a story? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. Or you can submit your videos and pictures here. For more stories like this, check our news page. Follow Metro.co.uk on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates. You can now also get Metro.co.uk articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

Police have arrested a man following a “series of incidents” around Edinburgh in which four people were injured. (Picture: Edward Hughes /PA Wire) A taxi driver narrowly escaped after an axe was thrown through his window in a suspected terror attack in Edinburgh. CCTV footage appears to show a topless man driving erratically before abandoning his car and lunging at a random black man and delivery rider, while smoking and wielding two large knives. He is alleged to have thrown an axe through the window of a taxi, which the driver managed to avoid by moving his car forwards an inch as it was thrown. Two of the younger injured men had been at Broomhouse mosque just before they were attacked. ‘I’m protecting the country from these f****g Muslim b******s raping our young daughters, raping our kids. Enough is enough,’ the man was allegedly heard shouting as he was pinned to the floor. Sign up for all of the latest stories Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens. Daniel Gilius, Scotland Regional Manager of Muslim Engagement & Development (MEND) told Metro: ‘Several of the injured are well known to the community, one of whom has family roots across the city. ‘During my time in the community yesterday, I heard about the taxi driver who was attacked resulting in an axe being launched through the rear passenger window. ‘The man who was driving the car was just seconds from severe injury and it was only because he was able to move his car a few inches forward at the time of the attack that the axe did not cause serious harm.’ He added: ‘Two of the younger victims are known to have only arrived in the city a couple of weeks ago, they had recently attended the mosque prior to the attack.’ Mr Gilius hit out at social media trolls after people hailed the suspect as a ‘hero’. Footage posted to social media shows a topless man with a knife being pinned to the ground by officers He said: ‘These hateful and vile comments on our social media posts are, sadly, no surprise. Despite these brutal attacks targeting innocent people, the far-right have no sympathy or compassion. ‘Comments which incite hate and even celebrate violence are becoming part of daily life. Social media platforms continue to prioritise profits over safety and many users have become numb to even the most hateful posts. ‘Islamophobia is nothing new, but one of the most alarming trends in recent months and years is voices whom we would usually expect to call our far-right extremism are fading into silence – or are toning down their words.’ Far-right activist Tommy Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, distanced himself from the attack despite stoking Islamophobic rhetoric online. Mr Gilius added: ‘Speaking broadly rather than about any particular individual, far right influencers are often quick to distance themselves when attacks take place, but we know that Islamophobic extremism has a root cause and that radicalisation takes place online with disastrous consequences.’ Counter terror police have confirmed they are investigating the incidents which left five men – two aged 22, and others aged 24, 27 and 39 – with a range of injuries. Three of the men were taken to hospital and none of the injuries are believed to be life-threatening. A 36-year-old white Scottish man has been charged. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

Outcry after several injured in attacks targeting Muslims in Edinburgh Submitted by Bilge Kotan on Sat, 06/20/2026 - 22:46 Rights groups say attacks were fuelled by political rhetoric as Counter Terror Police investigate Friday attacks that injured five people In this file photo, First Minister and SNP leader John Swinney meets members of the Muslim community during a visit to the Edinburgh Central Mosque, in Scotland on 5 August 2024 (AFP) Off Politicians and rights groups condemned a series of violent attacks that targeted Muslim men aged between 22 and 36 in Edinburgh on Friday. Police arrested a 36-year-old Scottish man on the same day after five men suffered a range of injuries. "I'm protecting the country from these fucking Muslim bastards raping our young daughters, raping our kids. Enough is enough,” the man was heard shouting at the police during his arrest. The Scottish counter terrorism police launched an investigation into the attacks. Counter-terrorism police are investigating a series of Islamophobic attacks in Edinburgh that left five people injured on Friday evening. A white Scottish man was arrested in connection with the attacks, with footage appearing to show him carrying a weapon. pic.twitter.com/orPxo9lmQf — Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) June 20, 2026 First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney, said he is “deeply concerned” by these incidents. “There is no place for violence, racism or intolerance in our country,” he said in a post on X. The Muslim Council of Britain condemned the attacks, saying they were “a direct consequence of political rhetoric that demonises entire communities.” “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 said. UK-based non-profit, MEND (Muslim Engagement and Development), said the Scottish police should treat the incidents as “what the evidence indicates: Islamophobic, far right terror.” “To investigate these attacks while ignoring a motive shouted aloud at the point of arrest would tell every Muslim in Scotland that the law does not see the hatred aimed at them,” the group said. The counter terrorism investigation came after the statement. Call for emergency Cobra meeting amid rising Islamophobic hate crimes The Prime Minister of the UK, Keir Starmer, meanwhile, called the attacks “absolutely appalling.” “No one should face violence on our streets. The suspect appears to be motivated by anti-Muslim hatred,” he said in a post on X. “I will not tolerate this - he will face the full force of the law.” Sharing footage of the arrest, British MP Zarah Sultana criticised Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s response, questioning why an emergency COBRA meeting was not called after the attacks. “Where is the COBRA meeting, Keir Starmer? Or does that not apply when Muslims are attacked?” she said in a post on X. A Cobra meeting is the UK government's emergency crisis committee convened during major national emergencies, such as terrorist attacks.  The prime minister has called a Cobra meeting following the stabbing of two Jewish men and a Muslim man in Golders Green, north London, in late March. Following the meeting, Starmer said the Jewish community feels very much "exposed and vulnerable." Some criticised the prime minister for failing to mention the Muslim victim. The attacks come amid a rise in Islamophobic hate crimes in the UK. In one of the most recent incidents, a neo-Nazi teenager attempted to behead a Kurdish barber with an axe in a terrorism-motivated attack in Bristol in May. She has been jailed for 19 years and six months. Met Police data published in early July showed Islamophobic hate crime offences rose 33 percent between April and May, from 135 to 179 cases, the highest monthly figure since August 2024. The increase came after a decline in late 2025 and early 2026, with offences rising sharply in March, when the UK government introduced a new definition of anti-Muslim hostility. Islamophobia News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0

A 36-year-old white Scottish man has been arrested (Picture: Edward Hughes /PA Wire) A range of attacks have been carried out in Edinburgh appearing to target the Muslim community. Counter terror police have confirmed they are investigating the incidents which left five men – two aged 22, and others aged 24, 27 and 39 – with a range of injuries. Three of the men were taken to hospital and none of the injuries are believed to be life-threatening. A 36-year-old white Scottish man has been arrested. Police were called to the first report at 8.50pm on Friday to the Sighthill area where two men were injured. Sign up for all of the latest stories Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens. More reports started coming in about incidents at different retailers across the west and north of the city. Three other men were attacked in the Telford Road and Leith Walk area. The Scottish Association of Mosques (SAM) said two of those hurt were ‘reportedly attacked after attending prayers at their local mosque’. Footage posted to social media shows a topless man with a knife being pinned to the ground by officers. He shouts: ‘I am protecting the country.’ Assistant Chief Constable Catriona 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. ‘Officers responded to multiple reports of a fast-moving sequence of events across Edinburgh before arresting a man and public safety was our priority. Extensive work is ongoing to establish all the circumstances.’ First Minister John Swinney said he was ‘deeply concerned’ by the attacks. He added: ‘There is no place for violence, racism or intolerance in our country. I met community groups last week to assure them of the strong support of the government.’ Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. For more stories like this, check our news page. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source