Key Points
- Two teenagers have been arrested and charged following a targeted knife incident in an Edinburgh car park, described as deliberate and involving masked individuals and bladed weapons.
- The exact location of the car park has been withheld by police while inquiries continue; forensic teams have searched the scene, and officers are reviewing witness accounts and CCTV footage.
- The charged teenagers are entitled to legal representation and are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
- Separately, Police Scotland is tracing the driver who fled the scene of a two-vehicle collision on North Junction Street at around 8am on 27 February 2026.
- No injuries were reported in either incident, and the abandoned vehicle from the collision was later found on Ferry Road.
- Police are urging the public to provide dashcam, CCTV, or mobile footage, preserving original files and noting times and locations for submission via non-emergency channels.
- Both incidents occurred during a busy month of cultural events in Edinburgh in February 2026, with no widespread disruptions but increased security measures at venues.
- Investigations remain active, with detectives reviewing footage, statements, and forensic leads; the public should quote relevant reference numbers when contacting Police Scotland.
Edinburgh (Edinburgh Daily News) February 27, 2026 – Two separate incidents have prompted police action in Edinburgh, with teenagers charged over a targeted knife attack in a city car park and officers seeking a runaway driver from a collision on North Junction Street.
What Happened in the Car Park Knife Attack?
Police Scotland responded to a targeted confrontation in an Edinburgh car park, leading to the arrest and charging of two teenagers. As detailed in the NewsHub.co.uk report, the incident was deliberate, involving masked people and bladed weapons, though the precise location remains undisclosed amid ongoing inquiries. Forensic teams have examined the scene, while officers compile witness statements and CCTV evidence to establish the full circumstances.
No injuries were reported from the altercation, underscoring the potential danger despite the absence of harm. The two individuals charged are receiving legal support, with authorities emphasising their presumption of innocence until proven otherwise. This event echoes prior knife-related disturbances in the city, such as the Rose Street incident on 16 January 2026, where two males aged 17 and 15 were charged after reports of bladed weapons, as reported by Police Scotland.
Detective Inspector Alan Sharp, quoted in coverage by NEN.press, noted in a related case:
“We are grateful for the support shown by the public to our investigation so far. Further enquiries remain ongoing to establish the full circumstances. I would urge anyone who may have been in the area at the time and has not yet spoken to police to get in touch.”
Although that statement pertained to the city centre event, it reflects the ongoing investigative approach Police Scotland applies to such matters.
Who Are the Teenagers Charged and What Are the Next Steps?
The identities of the two teenagers in the car park case have not been released, in line with protocols for youth offenders. Police have confirmed the attack’s targeted nature, suggesting it was not random but linked to specific individuals or groups. This aligns with patterns seen in other Edinburgh youth disturbances, including a Princes Street confrontation on 13 October 2025 involving masked groups with knives, where an 18-year-old and a 15-year-old were charged, according to STV News.
In the January Rose Street case, the 17-year-old was scheduled to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on 19 January 2026, while the 15-year-old was referred to youth justice authorities, as stated by Police Scotland. STV News reporter detailed:
“Two males, aged 17 and 15, were arrested and charged in connection with the incident. No injuries were reported. The 17-year-old is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday.”
Similar court proceedings are anticipated for the car park suspects, though specific dates remain pending announcement.
BBC News coverage of the Rose Street event added:
“Two adolescent males have been accused following sightings of individuals wielding sharp weapons… A 17-year-old, who was subsequently apprehended, is scheduled to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday.”
These parallel cases highlight recurring concerns over youth knife possession in Edinburgh’s public spaces.
What Details Emerge about the Runaway Driver Incident?
Just before 8am on 27 February 2026, a two-vehicle collision occurred on North Junction Street, prompting a police response. One driver fled the scene, leaving the vehicle abandoned on nearby Ferry Road, with no injuries reported among involved parties. Officers closed the road briefly for emergency and traffic assessments, now focusing on tracing the suspect through vehicle examination and witness appeals.
This hit-and-run mirrors earlier Edinburgh pursuits, such as the 23 November 2025 St John’s Road stop in Corstorphine, where a driver fled after a Saughton Road crash, as covered by Yahoo UK News. A Police Scotland representative stated:
“Officers halted vehicle on John’s in Edinburgh early hours Sunday, 23 November 2025. The car then fled from the officers and was located shortly after, been involved a crash Saughton Road. The driver escaped from the scene of the accident, and investigations are underway to find them. No other injuries were reported.”
Another comparable event on 22 October 2025 involved a blue Vauxhall Corsa pursued from Newington Road, striking a 47-year-old pedestrian before the driver fled, per STV News. Sergeant Grant Hastie remarked:
“Our enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances and trace those responsible. I would urge anyone who witnessed the crash, or saw a blue Vauxhall Corsa in the area beforehand or afterwards, to come forward.”
Police Scotland’s current call for dashcam footage in the North Junction Street case echoes these pleas.
How Can the Public Assist Police Investigations?
Authorities are appealing for public help in both matters, requesting dashcam, CCTV, or mobile recordings with timestamps and locations preserved. Submissions should go through Police Scotland’s non-emergency lines, with assurances that providing information poses no automatic legal risk to witnesses. Quoting relevant reference numbers—available from force communications—will aid efficient processing.
In the NewsHub.co.uk article, police stressed:
“Police have asked the public to share any dashcam, CCTV or mobile footage and to come forward with eyewitness accounts—even if you don’t think what you saw was important.”
This proactive stance has proven effective in past cases, like the Rose Street inquiry where public support was acknowledged by Detective Inspector Sharp.
Contact options include calling 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, as advised in multiple Police Scotland updates. Residents are urged not to intervene in suspicious situations but to report observations promptly.
What Is the Community Impact in Edinburgh?
These incidents coincide with February 2026’s vibrant cultural calendar, including tours, concerts, and theatre, which proceeded without major hitches. Venues bolstered staffing and security reviews precautionarily, while local businesses monitor footfall amid resident concerns over brazen attacks and calls for enhanced patrols and lighting.
Edinburgh has seen a pattern of such events, from the Slateford Green assault in December 2024—where three youths aged 16 and 17 were charged—to the machete sighting reported by BBC News in January 2026. Detective Inspector Gordon Couper, in the Slateford case, said:
“Our enquiries are continuing to trace everyone who was involved in this unprovoked attack.”
Community alarm persists, yet no widespread panic has ensued.
What Measures Are Police Taking Next?
Investigations into the car park attack and runaway driver remain active, with forensic analysis, footage reviews, and statements ongoing. Police Scotland commits to piecing together timelines and leads, similar to their handling of the abandoned Ferry Road vehicle.
