3 hours ago
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BBC
CCTV shows a man being arrested eight minutes after he arrived in Leith Walk
The BBC has obtained CCTV footage showing the moments leading up to the arrest of a man, following a number of suspected anti-Muslim attacks across Edinburgh.
A topless man can be seen in the footage driving erratically before abandoning his car and attacking a black man and a delivery rider, while smoking and wielding two large knives.
Police said five people in total were hurt in attacks at various locations across Edinburgh on Friday night and that counter-terrorism police had joined the probe.
Two of the injured men had attended prayer at Broomhouse mosque about half an hour before they were attacked.
The footage shows a man apparently holding knives, pursuing a black man who has just got off a tram
The CCTV footage seen by the BBC shows a man swerving a dark car onto Leith Walk and straddling the vehicle across a cycle lane.
The man gets out of his car, topless, and runs towards a man on an e-bike before disappearing out of shot.
He returns to his car and gets inside briefly, before emerging and running towards a black man who has stepped off a tram.
The footage shows the topless man, with a cigarette in his mouth, repeatedly striking at the black man with two large knives in his hand.
The black man runs away and the bare-chested man gives up the chase, returning to batter the door of a pizzeria on Leith Walk while members of the public run away.
Minutes later, the man runs onto Leith Walk and attacks a delivery driver on an e-bike, who falls off his vehicle.
Police arrive on scene shortly afterwards and detain the man about five minutes after he first pulled up in the street.
Police said a total of five people were injured, four of them needing hospital treatment in a series of incidents that began at Broomhouse Mosque in the west of the city.
The force said none of the injuries sustained were believed to be life-threatening. Two of the injured men were aged 22, and others were aged 24, 27 and 39.
The 22-year-olds were sitting in Sighthill Park, near the mosque after the Asr prayers at about 20:00, when they were approached by a man.
They were taken to hospital and discharged on Saturday, having been stabbed multiple times.
One man, who is well-connected to Muslim communities in the west of Edinburgh, told the BBC his "heart dropped" when he heard the men were members of a congregation.
"It doesn't make sense that this is actually happening," he said. "You know how Edinburgh is, a very good community. I never thought that's a thing that would happen here."
Aaquil Hussain, a liaison officer who manages parking and safety issues at Broomhouse Mosque, said the attacks were an "affront to British values".
Aaquil Hussain said members of the Muslim community were proud to live in Edinburgh
He told BBC Scotland News: "We understand that these attacks do not represent the vast majority of the city and Scotland and the United Kingdom.
"We're proud to live in Edinburgh. We will get on with it, this will pass. We are shook but we are resilient."
However, Hussain added that the community wanted the UK government to tackle "extremism" which had led to people "buying into propaganda which was absolutely false".
It is thought the attacker travelled from Sighthill to the Shell petrol station on Telford Road, where a taxi driver was confronted, his car vandalised and an axe was thrown through the vehicle's window.
A taxi had its window smashed at a Shell garage in Telford Road
Broken glass and a hatchet could be seen on the seat of the damaged taxi
Various other videos of incidents have been posted on social media, showing a man causing disorder at other locations.
A man was captured on CCTV at the BP petrol station on Ferry Road standing beside a black vehicle with its windscreen smashed.
He then enters the petrol station's shop and wanders around several times before pushing multiple shelves over and scattering items on the floor.
In another video, a police officer can be seen holding a topless man on the ground, who then swears and shouts that he is "protecting the country".
Police Scotland said officers equipped with Tasers confronted and detained a 36-year-old man – though did not discharge their devices. He has since been charged.
Asst Ch Con Paton said was a "shocking attack".
She 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."
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the attacks, saying the suspect appeared to be motivated by "anti-Muslim hatred", while First Minister John Swinney said there was "no place for violence, racism or intolerance in our country".
It comes at a fraught time in the UK following multiple instances of disorder and unrest.
Three women were arrested on suspicion of assaulting an officer.
Flag-carrying Britain First supporters were told by their leader, Paul Golding, that they were calling for the "mass deportations of foreigners".
In June Hadi Alodid, from Sudan, was charged with the attempted murder of Stephen Ogilvie in Belfast.
A number of demonstrations were held across the UK the following day, heavily promoted by a number of far-right figures.
There was significant disorder in the Northern Irish capital – including bricks being thrown at police and properties being vandalised and set on fire.
Police said people were being "attacked because of the colour of their skin".
At one stage worshippers in Glasgow Central Mosque had to be locked in the building as the marchers appeared to be heading towards the place of worship.
On the latest scenes in Edinburgh, Justice Secretary Neil Gray called the attacks "absolutely appalling" and praised police for their efforts.
He told BBC Scotland News: "This serves to underline why religious and race based hatred and division cannot be tolerated in Scotland."
Leader of the Scottish Conservatives Russell Findlay said the scenes were "truly horrific" and that faith-based attacks had "absolutely no place in our country".
Labour MP for Glasgow South Zubir Ahmed told BBC Scotland's Sunday Show it was a "disgusting and disturbing attack" and said it was a reminder that Scotland was "not immune to these dark forces of hatred".
A joint statement from four Green MSPs representing Edinburgh said: "Many people across our city will be feeling shocked and frightened.
"Our Muslim communities in particular will be feeling a lot of anxiety and hurt. Our hearts and solidarity are with them, and with everyone who has been made to feel less safe."
