Terrified eyewitnesses have described the moment parents locked their children in cars as a ‘blood-soaked’ knifeman attacked two people on a housing estate. 

Footage shared on social media appears to show the suspect brandishing a blade in each hand in Calder, west Edinburgh, at around 8.25am this morning. 

One local worker described how he saw the man standing outside the back of some nearby shops. 

He said the man’s hands were ‘covered in blood’ and that he threw a spirit to his manager, who then chased him away before the police arrived. 

The suspect is said to have ransacked a local mini-supermarket and stabbed one council employee working as a concierge in a high-rise block of flats. 

Another of the alleged victims is believed to be a woman in her 60s, although this has not been confirmed by police.

It is understood that the suspect, a black man who appeared to be in his late 30s, is now holed up in a tower block flat on the 11th floor in a stand-off with armed police. 

Images show him grinning at the window of the property and looking down at several officers below.   

Footage shared on social media appears to show a man holding two weapons, one in each hand

The suspect is now believed to be holed up in a tower block flat in a stand-off with armed police

Armed police have swarmed a neighbourhood in Edinburgh after a man was seen brandishing two large knives

Describing the moment he saw the alleged attacker, the worker told Edinburgh Live: ‘I could see his hands covered in blood. And the knives were drenched in it.

‘So I grabbed the spirit level and threw it to my manager. And he’s chased him onto the grass but I’ve told him to get back as he could slip.’

‘Parents were running their kids into cars and the police just sat there. Folk were dropping off at the school. The guy was covered in blood,’ he added.  

According to The Telegraph, the suspect is thought to be from Somalia, although this has not been confirmed by police. 

Locals also claimed the knifeman had tried to get into a school and a nursery before being chased away. 

Videos on social media show damage to a local shop, with smashed bottles and boxes covering the floor. 

Abigail Clegg said: ‘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 lives in the area, added that he believed the man had entered the stairwell of his building.

Police at the scene in Calder, Edinburgh, after police warned the public to avoid the area

The suspect is seen at the window of a tower block in Calder 

He said: ‘He smashed the local shop, possibly stabbed two people unconfirmed.

‘Armed police, dogs been here for about two hours.’

Police said the incident was not being treated as terror related.  

Pictures from the scene show at least six police vehicles outside Cobbinshaw House, a tower block of flats, as well as armed police officers.

Locals said in posts on social media that schools had been locked down due to the incident. 

A text sent to parents at Wester Hailes High School read: ‘The school is in lockdown following an incident in the community this morning.

‘The children are safe. We will update you in 30 minutes. Thank you.’

Chief Inspector Scott Kennedy from Police Scotland 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. 

Armed police are pictured at the scene of a standoff with the suspect 

Police have warned the public to avoid part of Edinburgh after a man was seen brandishing two knives

Locals says a number of people may have been stabbed, with an emergency response in place since before 9am

‘Anyone with information or concerns can approach these officers or call us on 101.’

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Ambulance Service said: ‘We received a call at 8.34am 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.’

A statement from Police Scotland previously said: ‘The public is being advised to avoid the Calder area of Edinburgh following reports of a man with a bladed weapon.

‘Police, including firearms officers, are in attendance.’

A council spokesperson said: ‘We’re aware of an ongoing incident in the Calder area of the city and are continuing to support Police Scotland.

‘Following police advice, all council buildings nearby, including schools and early years centres, were closed to the public.

‘We’re hoping to be able to reopen these shortly and are continuing to keep parents and local residents updated.’