Man, 47, dead and three hospitalised after series of major incidents in Scotland

The Isle of Skye woke up to unimaginable horror on Wednesday, as Louise Scott reports

A 47-year-old man has died and three people have been injured in a series of incidents in Scotland, during which a firearm was discharged.

Emergency services were called to reports of a woman, 32, understood to have been stabbed and seriously hurt in Tarskavaig, Skye, shortly before 9am on Wednesday. She was taken to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.

Officers were then called to the Teangue area of the island at 9.30am after a gun was fired, where a 47-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene, he is thought to have been shot.

Police subsequently attended a property in the Dornie area in Wester Ross after further gunshots were heard.

It is believed a couple there suffered gunshot injuries to their head and face, though their condition is not yet known.

The man was found with serious injuries and taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness and the woman was taken to Broadford Hospital.

Neighbours have spoken of their shock that this could happen in such a quiet community - Louise Scott reports from the scene

A 39-year-old man has since been arrested in connection with the three incidents, which police believe are linked.

The suspect has also been taken to Raigmore Hospital.

Kate Forbes, MSP for Skye, Lochaber & Badenoch described the news as “one of the worst days that I can recall in the history of Skye and Lochalsh.”

SNP MP Ian Blackford, who represents the Ross, Skye and Lochaber constituency, said he was one of many in the community who were horrified by the attacks.

Speaking in the aftermath of the incidents, he said: “For people to hear the news of today’s incidents that have taken place in three separate occasions, I think it’s really shocked the place to the core, it’s shocked people that this sort of thing can happen.

“It’s a terrible, terrible day that these things have come to Skye and Lochalsh.

“It takes some time for some of these communities to recover from this and it’s really important that we make sure all the support is there for the families.”

Chief Superintendent Conrad Trickett, local policing commander for Highlands and Islands Division, said there will be a significant police presence in the area over the coming days, adding: “We will be working with partners to provide support to the local community.

“I would like to reassure people that we are treating these incidents as contained with no wider threat to the public.”

He asked any members of the public who believe they may have any information which could help police enquiries to call 101, quoting reference 0713 of 10 August, 2022.

How Wednesday's events unfolded and where

A spokesperson for the Scottish Ambulance Service confirmed four people were taken to hospital following the spate of incidents.

The rescue operation saw multiple ambulances, air ambulances and special rapid retrieval emergency teams, which are only summoned for incidents in rural locations when people are in critical need of medical attention.

Ms Forbes, who has just given birth to a baby girl, added: “I cannot begin to imagine what the family and friends of those who have lost a loved one are going through, and they should be in all our thoughts and prayers right now.

“West Highland communities are close-knit, we are warm and welcoming, and this will shatter us to the core.

“It feels like our very heart has been ripped apart.

“I, and I am sure many others, never thought we would see such an awful day.”

On behalf of Highland Council, convener Bill Lobban said: “We are thankful to our emergency services colleagues for bringing this very serious and shocking incident to a close.

“We will be providing support to the communities and our partners in every way possible. The communities of Skye and Dornie will be shocked and saddened by these incidents and our thoughts are with the individuals affected.”

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