Muslim groups and politicians have blamed a “poisonous narrative” surrounding Muslims for the vicious attacks in Edinburgh.
Five people were injured in the attacks with footage posted online appearing to show a bare-chested man roaming the streets with a large weapon, while another clip seemed to show a man battering the door of a pizzeria.
Police Scotland said a 36-year-old man had been charged in connection with the incident, which prime minister Keir Starmer said appeared to be motivated by “anti-Muslim hatred”.
On Sunday, Muslim Engagement and Development (MEND) urged police to “treat this as what the evidence indicates: Islamophobic, far-right terror”.
“Whipping up this type of vigilantism and emboldening far-right terror is [the] whole point of this poisonous narrative,” the group said.
“We expect a hate crime investigation and prosecution, and we stand ready to support the families.”
CCTV footage obtained by the BBC on Sunday showed the moments leading up to the arrest, with the incident now being investigated by counter-terror police.
It showed a man swerving a car onto Leith Walk and appearing to park it across a cycle lane before running towards a man on an e-bike.
The incident is reported to have begun at the Broomhouse Mosque. Five people were injured in the incident with four requiring hospital treatment. Two of the injured men were 22 while the others were aged 24, 27, and 39.
The 22-year-old men were reportedly sitting in Sighthill Park near the mosque after the Asr prayers at around 8pm when the man approached.
The government-funded British Muslim Trust said it was “deeply concerned by the shocking attacks”.
“Anti-Muslim hostility does not exist in a vacuum,” it said in a statement.
“When prejudice and hostility are normalised, they create the conditions in which violence becomes more likely. We cannot afford to ignore these warning signs.
“Anti-Muslim hostility has real-world consequences, and it must be confronted before acts of violence like this become normalised, leaving Muslim communities living in fear.”
Former first minister for Scotland Humza Yousaf said that the “sickening” attacks had not happened in a vacuum and that “Islamophobia has been mainstreamed for years.”
“We will get warm words and statements of solidarity from governments. It is not enough. We need concerted action from the office of the prime minister setting out how he and the government he leads swill protect Muslims who are feeling more and more unsafe in the UK as each day passes.”
Good Morning Britain presenter Adil Ray also posted a statement on Sunday writing: “Barely two weeks since we saw pogroms on our streets, a man has been charged following suspected anti-Muslim attacks. Five men have been injured. Why is the media so quiet about this? You’ll struggle to find the story on the front pages of media outlet apps. Why?”
On Saturday, Sir Keir posted on X, linking to an image of a bare-chested man carrying a large weapon, saying: “Absolutely appalling. No one should face violence on our streets.
“The suspect appears to be motivated by anti-Muslim hatred. I will not tolerate this – he will face the full force of the law.
“My thoughts are with those who are injured and I thank the police and the emergency services for their response.”
