For every anti-immigrant protester, there are countless others who reject hostility.

I first heard of it as a cryptic question on a WhatsApp group on June 19. “Woah what’s happened on Leith Walk?” A search on the internet yielded nothing. The only notable Edinburgh news that day was the airport being evacuated after the discovery of a “potentially suspicious package”.

The next morning, it became clear.

Two men were taken to hospital after being stabbed following prayers at Broomhouse Mosque.

A further three people were attacked on Leith Walk. Counter terrorism police investigated it as an anti-Muslim hate crime and a man was arrested and later charged with five counts of attempted murder linked to terrorism.

Four taken to hospital following incidents in West of Edinburgh Thousands march in solidarity with victims of suspected anti-Muslim attacks Counter-terrorism police leading probe after five injured in Edinburgh incidents

Four taken to hospital following incidents in West of Edinburgh

Thousands march in solidarity with victims of suspected anti-Muslim attacks

Counter-terrorism police leading probe after five injured in Edinburgh incidents

I watched the footage, alarmed. I recognised every wall, every signage, every stretch of the road. I take it every day.

Hate had arrived at my doorstep.

I am an Indian woman who moved to Edinburgh five years ago. I live in Leith, a historic port welcoming one and all. Here I come across people of different faiths, ethnicity and economic backgrounds all the time.

Like every woman, I have always negotiated public spaces with the awareness of my gender, particularly if I am alone at night time. Scotland is no different. However, in the recent past, something has shifted. I have occasionally looked over my shoulder for an additional reason: the colour of my skin.

People of colour and immigrants in Scotland had been on edge in the last few weeks. Close on the heels of the Belfast riots, anti-immigrant protests had erupted across the country. Citizen groups and community organisations were using their whisper networks to........

© Herald Scotland