Two taken to the Royal Infirmary after knife incident in the Calders

Police officers have surrounded a multi-storey block known as Cobbinshaw House South in Wester Hailes this morning in an incident which has resulted in two people being hospitalised.

Emergency services remain on the scene.

A spokesperson for Scottish Ambulance Services said: “We received a call at 08:34 to attend an incident on Calder Gardens, Edinburgh. 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.”

We understand that as many as four schools in the Calders area have been closed down by the council who have yet to confirm which schools these are. 

Several – reported to be around 20 – police vehicles were called to the scene following an earlier report of a man with a bladed weapon. The public was advised to avoid the Calder area of Edinburgh earlier on Monday.

Police, including firearms officers, are in attendance, but say they have now contained the incident.

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 enquiries are ongoing. 

“Two people were injured and taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for treatment. 

“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.”

Video footage circulating on social media shows a man walking while brandishing what appear to be two bladed weapons, one in each hand, and also shows a male wearing a cream jacket, camouflage trousers and a brown balaclava holding two blades – one in each hand. 

Other photographs taken outside Cobbinshaw House South show several police officers in attendance with other emergency vehicles, including ambulances. 

An ambulance can be observed outside the gates of the Sighthill Early Years Centre with parents and witnesses stood outside the school.

Police have taped off the area between on Calder Gardens, but there appear to be bystanders in the area as seen below. 

Video footage also shows a store in the area where damage has been caused to stock on the shelves.