Man Charged with Attempted Murder After Edinburgh Knife Incident

Mustafa Kokoneh, a 23-year-old man originally reported as being from Libya by BBC News but identified as an immigrant from Chad by Daily Mail, has been charged with attempted murder after a knife incident in Edinburgh that left two people injured. Kokoneh appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Wednesday and made no plea to eight separate charges.

The alleged attacks took place at Calder Park Supermarket and the adjacent block of flats, Cobbinshaw House North, in the Wester Hailes area of Edinburgh on Monday morning. According to reports, Kokoneh is accused of threatening to kill a woman, brandishing a knife, chasing her, and attacking her from behind when she was attempting to hide. The charges allege that he struck the woman on the head with a glass bottle and attempted to murder her.

Kokoneh is also accused of attempting to murder a man by repeatedly striking him on the body with a knife, causing severe injury and permanent impairment. He is further charged with assaulting two men in the supermarket by attempting to strike them on the body with a knife, endangering their lives. A breach of the peace charge alleges that he conducted himself in a disorderly manner, armed himself with weapons including a knife and bottle, threatened and pursued members of the public, and vandalized a shop.

Police were first called to the incident at about 08:25 on Monday morning after receiving reports of a disturbance involving a man with a bladed weapon. The suspect was arrested following a seven-hour stand-off with police. Chief Inspector Scott Kennedy confirmed that the incident is not being treated as terror-related and warned against spreading misinformation online.

The two injured individuals were taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for treatment but have since been discharged. According to Daily Mail, one man was treated for stab wounds while a woman received treatment for a cut to her head 'not believed to be caused by a bladed weapon'. Police Scotland has advised the public to avoid speculating about the details of the incident, as false information could affect future court proceedings.

Neighbours reported that the knifeman was 'covered in blood' and had ransacked a local shop. Schools and a nursery situated nearby were put into lockdown amid the rampage. Chief Inspector Scott Kennedy clarified that there were no reports of a man attempting to enter any educational establishment.