Schools and nurseries in the west of Edinburgh were closed after a man was seen ‘with a bladed weapon’
A number of schools and nurseries were forced into lockdown this morning, after a man armed with a knife tried to get in.
Locals in Calder, Edinburgh, were also urged to stay at home as armed police raced to an area where a man was seen “with a bladed weapon”. High-rise buildings were plunged into lockdown as the incident unfolded on Calder Gardens, outside Cobbinshaw House South, at around 9am.
Three ambulances raced to the scene and two people were taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary after having suffered injuries, Police Scotland said.
Terrifying footage showed the man walking along a street and clutching what appeared to be two huge blades. He was seen dressed in cream coloured clothing with a black backpack, brown hat and red and white trainers.
The clip also appeared to show a local convenience store completely trashed, with smashed bottles strewn across the floor. Locals claimed the man stormed the shop, ransacked it and then chased workers with a knife after he had attempted to get into a school.
Calder resident Abigail Clegg said he “tried to get into the school, the nursery” before he was chased away. “He [then] went into the shop. He ransacked the shop, the shop’s a mess. He chased the people that work in the shop with a knife.”
William Ramsay, who also lives in Calder, said he believed the armed man entered the stairwell of his building. “He smashed the local shop, possibly stabbed two people unconfirmed,” he told PA. “Armed police, dogs been here for about two hours.”
A lockdown in the area prevented some parents from taking their children to school. A mum said she was unable to get out of her high rise after police issued a warning urging people to stay away from the area at around 9.20am.
Another resident told how “police with guns” swarmed the scene. “I don’t know what’s happened but not allowed to take the kids to school,” the local added.
More footage later emerged of the man peering out of a window at Cobbinshaw House and smiling at residents gathered below.
Police Scotland said the incident is now “contained” and is not terror-related. Chief Inspector Scott Kennedy said: “The earlier disturbance in the Calder area of Edinburgh is now contained and there is not believed to be any wider risk to the public. The incident is not being treated as terror-related.
“Officers were called to reports of a man with a bladed weapon on Calder Gardens around 8.25am. Specialist resources, including firearms officers, are in attendance at a property nearby and inquiries are ongoing. Two people were injured and taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for treatment.”
He continued: “I understand this is an alarming incident for the local community. I want to reassure the public, officers will remain in the area as our enquiries continue.
“Anyone with information or concerns can approach these officers or call us on 101.”
The Scottish Ambulance Service said three ambulances, three paramedic response units (PRU), and a special operations response team (SORT) was sent to the scene.
“We received a call at 08:34 to attend an incident on Calder Gardens, Edinburgh,” a spokesperson said. “We dispatched three ambulances, three paramedic response units (PRU), and a special operations response team (SORT) to the scene. We transported two patients to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.”
