TERROR-LINKED stabbings in Edinburgh and London have shown the “two-tier media” system operating in the UK, according to fresh analysis.
The Centre for Media Monitoring (CfMM) studied coverage of the stabbings in the Sighthill and Leith Walk areas of Edinburgh on June 19 and of the stabbings in the Golders Green area of London on April 29 to compare how UK media reported on both incidents.
It found that the Golders Green incident – in which two people were wounded in an allegedly antisemitic attack – received around 20 times more online news coverage than the Leith incident – in which five people were wounded in an allegedly Islamophobic attack.
The report said there had been 782 articles on Golders Green across four days, and “just 35 on Edinburgh” across the same time period.
The CfMM also found that TV broadcasters gave the London incident around seven times more coverage than the one in Edinburgh.
The BBC News channel, for example, was found to have given 317 minutes of screentime to the Golders Green incident, against just 59 minutes to the Edinburgh incident.
It was also noted that the two Jewish victims of the Golders Green stabbing were identified and interviewed by media outlets, whereas none of the five victims of the Edinburgh stabbing were named or interviewed.
As The National previously reported, a third person, Ishmail Hussein, was also targeted in a knife attack ahead of the Golders Green incident. However, he did not feature in much of the media reporting or the Metropolitan Police’s social media statements, with the focus instead on the Jewish victims.
The CfMM said that comparing the Edinburgh and London stabbings showed a “two-tier media” at work in the UK.
“Two attacks. Two communities. One country. CfMM data reveals a two-tier media,” the group said. “A Muslim community attacked in Edinburgh got less than a seventh of the airtime across British news channels that was given to the Golders Green attacks in London.
“GB News gave Edinburgh nine mins. It gave Golders Green 355 mins, 39x more. BBC gave 5.5 times more to attacks on Jews. Every broadcaster showed the same pattern.”
It added: “The language gap is damning. Edinburgh: 84 times it was said to be a ‘suspected anti-Muslim’ attack, even after a charge was laid.
“Golders Green: ‘antisemitic’ stated as fact from bulletin one. ‘Islamophobia’ said just four times. ‘Antisemitism’ said 341 times.
“Five Muslim men attacked in Edinburgh. Not one named on British TV. Two Jewish men attacked in Golders Green. Both named within hours and given interviews.
“Victims' humanity must not depend on their faith.”
1/7 Two attacks. Two communities. One country. @cfmmuk data reveals a two-tier media. A #Muslim community attacked in #Edinburgh got less than a seventh of the airtime across British news channels that was given to the Golders Green attacks in London. 🧵 pic.twitter.com/nbn5nnCO42
— The Centre for Media Monitoring (CfMM) (@cfmmuk) June 22, 2026
The CfMM went on: “Antisemitism is real, rising and deserved every minute of coverage. This is about why Islamophobia gets a fraction of the same.
“Both communities deserve equal protection and equal airtime. The data says they don't get it.
“One hate is acknowledged. One is barely spoken.”
