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Man Who Slashed Student at Edinburgh Protest Jailed for 22 Months

The court applied Scotland’s hate‑crime law after a report found Thomas McKenzie highly likely to reoffend.

Overview

  • Sheriff Julius Komorowski called the attack “disproportionate and wicked” and imposed a further 12 months of post‑release supervision.
  • Prosecutors said McKenzie shouted racial slurs and made Nazi salutes before using a box‑cutter to slash student Ben Law at George Square.
  • McKenzie pleaded guilty to assault to severe injury and to acting in a racially aggravated manner under the Hate Crime and Public Disorder (Scotland) Act 2021.
  • Law received hospital treatment for a facial wound and says he had to resit his third year after missing exams because of the assault.
  • Law alleges university security were warned the man had a knife, while the University of Edinburgh says safety is its priority and that security works closely with police.