Skip to main content
Work with the NEU
Swinney warns against speculation over knife attack as far right spread false rumours
Scottish First Minister John Swinney speaking to the media at The Port of Leith Distillery in Edinburgh, following the landslide General Election victory for the Labour Party, July 5, 2024

SCOTLAND’S First Minister John Swinney has warned against “unhelpful speculation” following far-right attempts to use a woman’s stabbing to whip up hatred of Muslims.

A 29-year-old man has been arrested in relation to an attack on a 21-year-old woman, who was treated in hospital for a non-life-threatening injury on Saturday evening.

Police Scotland took the unusual step of revealing that the arrested man was white and from the local area, following online claims that he “appeared to be” Muslim and that three people had been stabbed.

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
Similar stories
First Minister of Scotland John Swinney, August 28, 2026
Scotland / 7 September 2026
7 September 2026
A group of demonstrators from the anti-immigration protest, organised by Unite the Clans Scotland, break away from the rally and march towards Glasgow city centre, July 25, 2026
Far Right / 26 July 2026
26 July 2026