Two people were injured after a man armed with knives allegedly attacked members of the public in Edinburgh’s Calder area on Monday morning, triggering a major armed police response and lockdown of nearby schools.
According to BBC, police were called to reports of a man with a bladed weapon at around 8.25am. Firearms officers rushed to Calder Gardens, where the suspect is believed to have later retreated to a flat inside Cobbinshaw House, a multi-storey residential tower.
The injured were taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for treatment. Their condition has not been disclosed.
Police Scotland said the disturbance had been “contained” and stressed there was no wider risk to the public.
The incident is not being treated as terror-related.
Residents describe chaos, stand-off
Eyewitnesses said the man was seen carrying two large knives, reportedly stained with blood, and allegedly attempted to approach members of the public.
One local resident told BBC he saw the suspect outside a shop with two knives hidden behind his back. “He said, ‘Can I speak to you?’ He had the two knives behind his back, covered in blood,” the man said, adding that he confronted the suspect using a spirit level handed to him by a bystander.
Another resident, William Ramsay, told Press Association the man “smashed the local shop” and may have stabbed two people, though this was unconfirmed at the time.
Images from the scene showed at least six police vehicles stationed outside Cobbinshaw House, with armed officers entering the building. Footage circulating on social media appeared to show a man walking through the area holding two large knives.
Police later extended their cordon as members of the public gathered near the building, with some reportedly shouting toward a window where the suspect was believed to be inside an upper-floor flat.
Schools, buses affected
The City of Edinburgh Council confirmed that all schools and council buildings in the Calder area were closed to the public on police advice.
“We’re aware of an ongoing incident in the Calder area of the city and are continuing to support Police Scotland,” a council spokesperson said, adding that parents and residents were being kept updated.
Public transport was also disrupted, with Lothian Buses diverting its number 20 service until further notice.
The Scottish Ambulance Service said it dispatched three ambulances, three paramedic response units and a special operations response team to the scene.
Chief Inspector Scott Kennedy said specialist resources, including firearms officers, remain at the property and enquiries are ongoing. Police have urged anyone with information to contact them on 101.
Officers are expected to maintain a visible presence in the area as investigations continue.
