Hundreds of people protested outside Cobbinshaw House in Edinburgh's Calder area after a violent knife incident that hospitalized two victims. The demonstration, described by some media as anti-immigration, followed Monday's alleged attack by Mustafa Kokoneh, a 23-year-old man from Chad.

Police responded to reports of the stabbing on Monday, where Kokoneh allegedly threatened a woman with a knife, chased her, struck her on the head with a glass bottle, and attempted to murder her. He faces additional charges of attempting to murder a man by repeatedly stabbing him, causing severe injury and permanent impairment, along with six other counts. Kokoneh appeared privately at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Wednesday, made no plea, and was remanded in custody for a future appearance.

Protesters voiced concerns over safety and recent arrivals of young men in the neighborhood. Local resident Andy Milne told the BBC he attended because "we don't know who these people are," referencing a mother in tears after picking up her child from school, who wanted to move away. Some participants had joined prior anti-immigration rallies elsewhere in Scotland.

A counter-protest organized by trade unionists and anti-racism campaigners gathered nearby outside a church. Tensions rose briefly as the groups confronted each other, but police intervened to separate them. Chief Superintendent David Robertson confirmed no arrests or injuries occurred, and both groups dispersed peacefully.

Willie Black, from Trades Unions in Communities, attributed the turnout to far-right groups busing in supporters from across Scotland to sow division. "The local people didn't want this situation, they didn't want the stabbing, they didn't want division," he said.

Social media videos from the event, shared widely on platforms like X, Facebook, and TikTok, showed crowds waving Scottish Saltire and Union Jack flags while chanting "Sink the boats" in reference to illegal immigration. Posts claimed protests erupted at multiple locations across Edinburgh, with demonstrators demanding the removal of illegal immigrants. These clips amassed millions of views, though mainstream reports did not confirm the specific slogans.

The incident occurs amid ongoing debates over asylum seekers and immigration in Scotland, where hotels have housed thousands arriving by small boats across the English Channel. Police have urged calm, emphasizing their ongoing investigation into the stabbing.