Five injured in suspected faith-hate attacks in Edinburgh

Five men have been injured in a series of suspected faith-hate attacks as a bare-chested man was seen roaming the streets of Edinburgh with a large weapon.

The BBC understands the attacks began near a mosque in the west of the city, where two men were injured, on Friday night.

Footage seen by the BBC and posted on social media appears to show the same man vandalising a petrol station and battering the door of a pizzeria several miles away on Leith Walk before being held on the ground by police.

A 36-year-old white man has been arrested and counter terrorism officers have joined Police Scotland colleagues in an ongoing investigation.

In a statement Assistant Chief Constable Catriona Paton said there was "no place for racism or faith-based hate in Scotland".

MEND Scotland, a Muslim engagement group, said that several of the victims were from the Muslim community.

Police 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.

Taxi smashed at petrol station

The police were first called at about 20:50 and said they had responded to a "fast-moving sequence of events".

The BBC understands two men were injured close to the Broomhouse mosque in the west of the city. They were taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

Footage taken several miles away at the Shell petrol station on Telford Road, seen by the BBC, shows a taxi with its windows smashed with police at the scene.

Broken glass and a hand axe can be seen on the seat of the vehicle.

Various other videos of incidents have been posted on social media, appearing to show the same bare-chested 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 kiosk and wanders around several times before pushing multiple shelves over and scattering items on the floor.

Members of the public can be seen running away from a man as he approaches the Origano pizzeria on Leith Walk.

Staff in the pizzeria closed the electronic shutters as he repeatedly struck the door panes with the weapon before wandering away.

A topless man with a weapon also approaches a car which had stopped at a junction nearby.

Another video shows a heavy police presence and cordon around the Your Move estate agent, where paramedics are giving medical treatment to a clothed man on the ground who has his arm in a sling.

In another video, an officer can be seen holding a topless man on the ground, who then swears and shouts that he is "protecting the country".

Speaking about the events, Assistant 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.

"Extensive work is ongoing to establish all the circumstances.

"I want to thank our officers who responded with bravery and professionalism, and with a focus on protecting the public."

Anyone with information has been urged to contact police.

Muslims 'rightly nervous'

Several groups representing Muslim communities have condemned the attacks.

The Muslim Council of Britain said the Muslim community is "rightly nervous and worried".

A spokesperson said: "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.

"To our community: stay vigilant, look out for one another, and please report any Islamophobic hate crimes to the police."

Ben Macpherson, the SNP MSP for Edinburgh North Eastern and Leith, told the BBC the area was a very diverse place.

He said: "It's part of its strength for many, many decades and something we celebrate. And we're not going to let this or any other extremism divide us.