MUSLIM organisations have condemned a series of violent attacks across Edinburgh which left five people injured.
On Friday, police received multiple calls from members of the public concerning threats, robbery and vandalism across the capital.
Videos on social media appeared to show a man with a knife in the street, while another video appeared to show a topless man on the ground shouting that he is “protecting the country” as he is held by an officer, the Press Association reports.
Five men, two aged 22, and others aged 24,27 and 39, sustained a range of injuries.
Three required hospital treatment, with police confirming that none of the injuries are life threatening.
The organisation Muslim Engagement and Development (Mend) said that several of those injured are Muslim.
Police arrested a 36-year-old white Scottish man in connection, who remains in custody.
Counter-terrorism police are involved, and there is no wider threat to the public.
The Muslim Council of Britain condemned the attacks, saying in a statement: "We are grateful to Police Scotland, who intervened swiftly and arrested the suspect.
"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."
A spokesperson added: "The Muslim community is rightly nervous and worried. To our community: stay vigilant, look out for one another, and please report any Islamophobic hate crimes to the police."
The Scottish Association of Mosques (SAM) also expressed "deep alarm" following the violent attacks, saying that two of the injured men were attacked after attending prayers at their local mosque.
Omar Afzal, SAM director of public affairs, said: "There is a profound sense of shock, alarm and anger within Muslim communities across Edinburgh and Scotland today.
"These latest attacks are deeply disturbing. However, they do not exist in a vacuum.
"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."
Afzal said that Muslim communities are "increasingly asking whether enough is being done" to confront hatred directed towards them, adding that "we must reject the comforting myth of Scottish exceptionalism".
Afzal added: "Scotland is not immune from the forces of hatred and extremism that we see elsewhere.
"These incidents should serve as a wake-up call to all of us.
"The time for treating these incidents as isolated events has passed.
"Scotland requires a coordinated national strategy to tackle anti-Muslim hatred, address the conditions in which extremism flourishes, and ensure that minority communities can live their lives free from fear.
"The cost of inaction is simply too high."
Assistant Chief Constable Catriona Paton said: “This was a shocking attack and my first thoughts are with those who were injured and most directly affected.
“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.
“Officers responded to multiple reports of a fast-moving sequence of events across Edinburgh before arresting a man and public safety was our priority.
“Extensive work is ongoing to establish all the circumstances. We are being supported by Counter Terrorism Policing and working under the direction of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
“I want to thank our officers who responded with bravery and professionalism, and with a focus on protecting the public.
“I’m hugely grateful for the support and assistance of our communities and would appeal for anyone with any information to share it with police. We have established a major incident police portal.”
Click here to access the major incident portal.
