An armed man attempted to force his way into a nursery and primary school before going on to stab at least two people and ransack a local shop during a prolonged knife rampage in Edinburgh this morning, witnesses have said.
The incident began in the Calder area of the city at around 8.25am, when the man — who was seen carrying two large blades described by witnesses as blood-soaked and taped to his hands — was spotted in the grounds of Sighthill Primary School and Early Years Centre. Local resident Abigail Clegg told the Press Association the man had “tried to get into the school, the nursery” before being chased away from the premises.
He then moved to a nearby shop, where witnesses say he ransacked the interior before continuing his movements through the area. A woman who asked not to be named said the man had also been seen in the playground of the primary school, adding: “He’s also been inside the Calder Park shop and wrecked the place. The shops are all closed down now.” Staff at a local café called Brunch also reported the man roaming behind their premises between 8am and 8.30am, forcing them to temporarily close out of fear for their safety.
Two people were stabbed during the rampage and transported to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for treatment. A third person is also understood to have sustained injuries. The Scottish Ambulance Service confirmed it dispatched three ambulances, three paramedic response units and a special operations response team to Calder Gardens after receiving a call at 8.34am.
Following his attack, the man is believed to have retreated to a flat at Cobbinshaw House, where a tense stand-off with police has since developed. Shocking images from the scene showed the man grinning from a window as officers maintained a cordon outside the building. An estimated 100 residents gathered at the block of flats, with some heard shouting at the man as he remained visible at the window. One local is reported to have confronted him with a metal bar after witnessing him carrying the bloodied weapons.
Police Scotland Chief Inspector Scott Kennedy confirmed the wider disturbance had been contained and that the incident was not being treated as terror-related. The City of Edinburgh Council confirmed that all nearby council buildings, including schools and early years centres, were closed on police advice, with officials indicating they hoped to reopen them shortly.
Enquiries into the full circumstances of the incident remain ongoing, with police urging anyone with information to contact officers at the scene or call 101.
