Edinburgh council set to call for crackdown on availability of knives in wake of alleged anti-Muslim attacks across city
‘We have to do everything we possibly can to avoid the repeat of knife violence’ - Cllr Adam Nols-McVey
Edinburgh council is calling for a crackdown on knife availability following a series of alleged anti-Muslim attacks across the Capital that left five people injured.
A motion to be considered at the full council meeting on Thursday proposes that the council leader should write to both the UK and Scottish governments calling for a review.
The move came as First Minister John Swinney repeated his condemnation of the “horrendous attacks” at First Minister’s Questions in the Scottish Parliament.
He said that on Monday he had visited the Broomhouse and Annandale Street mosques along with Equalities Minister Simit Kumar and Edinburgh North Eastern & Leith SNP MSP Ben Macpherson.
“I met with two young men who had been injured in the attacks on Friday. They have suffered physical injuries, but they are clearly utterly traumatised by their experience. They are a valued part of our community and the Scottish Government will do all that we can to ensure community cohesion is at the centre of all our work.”
Kate Campbell, SNP MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Musselburgh and Tranent, had asked the First Minister for an update on the Scottish Government’s response to the attacks and its engagement with Scotland’s Muslim community.
She said; “People in Scotland must stand united in our condemnation of this hatred and against attempts to stoke fear and divide us.”
Police have said the alarm was raised at around 8.50pm on Friday when they were called to the Sighthill area, where two men were found injured and taken to hospital. There were then further incident reported elsewhere in the city, including people injured on Telford Road and Leith Walk, where police confronted and detained a man around 9.30pm.
Lewis Hawkes, 36, appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday, charged with five counts of attempted murder "aggravated by reason of having a terrorist connection" following a series of attacks in Edinburgh on Friday evening. He also faced three charges of assault and robbery, two counts of culpable and reckless conduct and a single charge of breach of the peace. He made no plea and the case was committed for further examination.
Former SNP council leader Adam Nols-McVey tabled the motion for Thursday’s full council meeting, calling for action on knives, before Friday evening’s incidents. It was prompted by the murder of 18-year-old student Henry Nowak in Southampton and the violent disorder there and elsewhere which followed the conviction of Vickrum Digwa for the killing.
The motion also highlights the campaign for “bleed kits” by Lisa Petrie, mother of John McNab, who was stabbed to death in Leith’s Great Junction Street last year.
Councillor Nols-McVey said: “This proposal is to encourage stronger action by the UK Government on tackling the availability of knives on our streets.
“Lisa Petrie, who tragically lost her son, has already secured action from the council to roll out bleed kits to help save lives.
“We also have to do everything we possibly can to avoid the repeat of knife violence, and that includes clamping down on online sales of what would otherwise be illegal weapons.
“The most recent scenes on the streets of Leith and other parts of the city show how urgent it is to further limit the supply of weapons on our streets. That one person can cause such a threat within our community requires a swift response.”
The motion notes the Nowak family’s call to ban the carrying of all knives and agrees that the council leader writes to the UK and Scottish governments, calling for a review of “all exemptions for blade carrying and purchasing - including some loopholes that allow deadly and dangerous weapons to be purchased online, circumventing current controls”.
It also seeks assurance from Police Scotland about their approach, following the circumstances of Henry Nowak’s death. Despite having been attacked, he was handcuffed and told he was under arrest. On bodycam footage he could be heard repeatedly saying that he had been stabbed and could not breathe, then he became unresponsive.
Cllr Nols-McVey said: “For any parent, it is harrowing to think their child could be asking police for help to save their life, with that help being denied.”
Cllr Nols-McVey also praised the Sikh community in Leith for its “ongoing inclusive community engagement”.
He said: “Since the murder of Henry Nowak and the violence towards ethnic minorities and others that we’ve seen since, the community in Leith has come together. The Gurdwara has hosted an open day highlighting their strong role in the community and Leith has come together loudly and proudly to stand with all residents against violence. I know Leith, and Edinburgh will remain united as we deal with these issues.”