A man has died on Skye and three others were injured after a series of incidents, some involving a firearm, on Skye and in Wester Ross in west Scotland.
Police Scotland said they had arrested a 39-year-old man who was one of the casualties after receiving reports on Wednesday morning that a woman, 32, had been seriously injured at a property in the Tarskavaig area of southern Skye.
She was airlifted to Queen Elizabeth university hospital in Glasgow by air ambulance.
About 30 minutes later, police received reports of a further incident nearby, in the Teangue area, where a firearm was discharged. Emergency services arrived at the property to find a 47-year-old man dead at the scene.
Police then raced to another property near Dornie on the mainland, after another gunshot was heard. The force said a male casualty was then flown to Raigmore hospital in Inverness for treatment for serious injuries. Another woman was taken to Broadford community hospital on Skye.
The 39-year-old man has been arrested in connection with all of the incidents, which are being treated as linked. He was also taken to Raigmore hospital by air ambulance.
Police said an investigation into the incidents was being led by its major investigation team. Ch Supt Conrad Trickett, the local 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.”
Ian Blackford, the MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber, and Westminster leader of the Scottish National party, 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.
“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.”
The first reports said numerous emergency services and police vehicles had descended on the three sites; the Scottish ambulance service said it had dispatched multiple ambulances, several air ambulances, a special operations response team and an emergency medical retrieval service (EMRS) team.
About a dozen police vehicles, including an armed response team, and a Police Scotland helicopter were also deployed.
The fishing village of Dornie is best known as the site of Eilean Donan, the picturesque castle which sits on an island at the junction of three sea lochs, close to shore on the main road to the Skye Bridge and the port town of Kyle of Lochalsh.
Skye councillor John Finlayson described the news as tragic for the community.
He said: “I know how close-knit and big-hearted the communities in Skye and Lochalsh are and we will come together to support each other through this devastating time.
“I would like to thank the emergency services for everything they have done, and continue to do and our thoughts and prayers are with all the families that have been affected by the events of today which have hit everyone in our communities so hard.”
Another local councillor, Drew Millar, said the firearm incidents “shocked not just Skye and Lochalsh but the entire Highlands”.
He said Highland council had sent trained staff to support the affected families.
On behalf of the council, convener Bill Lobban said: “We will be providing support to the communities and our partners in every way possible.”
He thanked emergency services for stopping the attack from spreading further than it did.
