Stabbings in Edinburgh motivated by anti-Muslim hate

Midnight Adams

Three men have been hospitalised and five others injured after a series of machete attacks in Edinburgh on Friday evening. None of the injuries are said to be life-threatening.

A 36-year-old man has been arrested and charged in relation to the incident.

In a video of the arrest circulating on social media, the attacker can be heard saying he was “protecting this country from f*****g Muslim b*****ds,” which has intensified claims that the incident was fuelled by anti-Muslim hatred.

The stabbings took place in multiple locations across central Edinburgh, including Sighthill, Telford Road, and Leith Walk. Two young students and a Muslim taxi driver were stabbed in Broomhouse.

The victims were between 22 and 39 years old, and the Scottish Association of Mosques revealed that two of the injured men were attacked shortly after attending prayers at a local mosque.

Several senior political figures have condemned the attacks, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who said: “The suspect appears to be motivated by anti-Muslim hatred. My thoughts are with those injured, and I thank the police and the emergency services for their response.”

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood also said she was “horrified by news of the attack in Edinburgh” and promised “there is no place for hatred and violence against Muslims.”

The response from Conservative Party Leader Kemi Badenoch also condemned the attack as an example of anti-Muslim hate, saying: “Violence in our streets is bad enough but reports indicate some of the victims were targeted because they were Muslim. This is abhorrent.”

While Police Scotland has announced that counter-terrorism officers are involved in the investigation, they have not yet described the attack as Islamophobic.

Several members of the public have criticised the government for not formally classifying the incident as terrorism.

Scottish historian William Dalrymple questioned Keir Starmer’s reaction in a post on X, saying: “No COBRA meeting @Keir_Starmer?” — a reference to the government’s much stronger reaction to the stabbings in Golders Green on April 29, where a COBRA meeting was held the same day.

Dalrymple also criticised the BBC, saying: “Why are stabbed Muslims of absolutely no consequence to anyone in power in the UK?”

Dalrymple is far from the only person to challenge the government and media sources. In response to a post by @UKfactcheckpolitics, Instagram users said: “The media is the reason. Spreading fear into the minds of the average person. Politicians blaming immigrants to distract people.”

Another user commented: “Farage incites violence, Tommy [Robinson] incites violence, Musk incites violence. No one is ever held accountable or sanctioned.”

The Muslim Council of Britain noted that the Muslim community is “rightly nervous and worried,” saying: “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.”

Liam, 29, from Edinburgh, who converted to Islam four years ago, was not surprised by the incident, blaming online rhetoric and social media algorithms for making “these events become inevitable.”

He told The Muslim News: “I have no doubt that the man who carried out the attack has been propagandised to believe Muslims are an existential threat to this country but the reality could not be further from the truth.

“There is a deep irony in claiming to oppose a supposedly ‘barbaric’ religion by stabbing people in the streets and burning down homes with families inside.”

Maha, 22, from Glasgow, told The Muslim News: “This is a result of the continued normalisation of hateful speech, especially about Muslims,” blaming recent hate marches and racist rhetoric for normalising anti-Muslim hate. She added: “I feel very nervous about what lies ahead.”

Iqbal Mohammed, Independent MP for Dewsbury and Batley, also placed blame on “irresponsible rhetoric” and social media, saying: “Those who normalise prejudice against Muslims in politics, the media and public life must be held accountable for the climate they help create.”

He urged the government to respond with visible solidarity and provide decisive action to tackle the root causes of anti-Muslim hatred in the UK, stating: “Muslims deserve the same protection, support, and national concern afforded to any community targeted by terrorism.”

Muslim Women’s Network UK highlighted similar concerns, saying: “No one should be targeted because of their faith, ethnicity, or appearance. These attacks come against a backdrop of rising anti-Muslim hostility across the UK, fuelled by rhetoric that is increasingly normalised and amplified by some politicians, public figures, sections of the media, and social media platforms through their algorithms.”

MWNUK also expressed concern that hate crime legislation has not been strengthened in recent years, despite longstanding concerns.

This was echoed by Omar Afzal, Director of Public Affairs at the Scottish Association of Mosques, who said: “For years, Muslim communities have warned about the consequences of anti-Muslim hatred becoming normalised in public discourse.

“When prejudice is left unchallenged, it creates an environment in which some individuals feel emboldened to act on that hatred.”

Councillor Marwan Elfallah, from Redbridge, urged unity, saying: “My family emigrated to Scotland when I was a child. We found warmth and a society where migrants were welcomed with respect, not suspicion. This attack does not reflect Scotland, the Scottish people, or the Scottish Government.”

With Islamophobic attacks on mosques and Muslim communities—including vandalism, arson attempts, threats, and hate graffiti—Muslim communities across the UK will be expecting the government to provide a more robust strategy for tackling anti-Muslim hate crimes, which are approaching record levels.