A 47-year-old man has died and several others have been hurt in a major incident spanning three north communities.
Police were initially called to the Tarskavaig area on Skye shortly before 9am following reports a 32-year-old woman had been seriously injured.
Just half an hour later, a further incident – involving a firearm – was reported in the Teangue area at 9.30am.
Emergency services attended, but a 47-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Officers were then called to another shooting at a property in the Dornie area. A man was taken to Raigmore Hospital with serious injuries while a woman was taken to Broadford Hospital.
A 39-year-old man has been arrested, and was also taken to Raigmore Hospital.
Police have launched a murder investigation, with officers from across the Highlands making their way north.
They have described it as a “contained” incident and stressed there is no wider threat to the public.
‘Significant’ police presence in coming days
Ambulance and helicopter crews were also dispatched to the three incidents, which police have confirmed are linked.
The 32-year-old hurt in the Tarskavaig attack was flown to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
The distance between the three incidents is some 55 miles, much of it on single track roads.
Chief Superintendent Conrad Trickett, local policing commander, said: “Incidents such as this are thankfully extremely rare but I understand that this will have a significant effect on the local community in these rural areas.
“I would like to reassure people that we are treating these incidents as contained with no wider threat to the public.
“There will be a significant police presence in the area over the coming days and we will be working with partners to provide support to the local community. I would like to thank people for their cooperation as our investigation progresses.”
A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesman said: “We received a call at 09:02 to attend an incident in Tarskavaig, Skye.
“We also attended two further incidents in Teangue on Skye and Dornie.
“Multiple ambulances, air ambulances, a special operations response team (SORT) and an emergency medical retrieval service (EMRS) team attended the scenes.
“Four patients were transported to hospital: two to Raigmore Hospital, one to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and one to Broadford Hospital.”
What we know about how tragedy unfolded
- Shortly before 9am: Police alerted to 32-year-old woman seriously injured in Tarskavaig area on Skye.
- 9.02am: Ambulance service called to attend Tarskavaig.
- 9.30am: Police and ambulance services alerted to further incidents in Teangue and Dornie.
- Response: Multiple ambulances, air ambulances, special operations response team and an emergency medical retrieval service attend scene.
- Witnesses: Residents report seeing at least 14 police cars in Dornie.
- 10.30am: First reports on social media of significant police activity on Skye and in Lochalsh.
- Simultaneously: Four patients transported to hospital. Two taken to Raigmore in Inverness, one to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow and one to Broadford Hospital on Skye.
- 1.25pm: Police release first statement, confirming a 39-year-old man has been arrested.
- 5.50pm: Police confirm 47-year-old man has died and 32-year-old woman in serious condition in Glasgow.
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Police were called to a property in Dornie in the third and final incident. Pictures Jason Hedges/DC Thomson
‘Dreadful and shocking news’
Local MP Ian Blackford, who lives on Skye, said: “This is dreadful and shocking news – especially for a place like Skye and Lochalsh.
“I have been kept informed of the events and I understand a firearm and knives were involved.
“I have been told that there is one fatality and three injured.
“Firearm regulations are there for a reason and there must be a review of this incident to ensure if any lessons can be learned from it.
“I want to pay tribute to the emergency services, including the police and Scottish Ambulance Service, as well as the local authority. I understand the situation is under control.”
Councillor John Finlayson said: “I am totally shocked by the tragic events that have taken place today on Skye and in Lochalsh and my thoughts and prayers go out to all those who have been affected and also to the wider communities who I know will rally together to support each other. When we got up this morning we would never have expected the day to unfold as it has and we must now prioritise supporting each other in the difficult days ahead.”
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