A PERSON has died and three have been injured in a series of incidents on Skye and in Wester Ross, it has been confirmed.
A 47-year-old man died and three other people suffered injuries, in events which involved a gun being fired, Police Scotland said.
Police confirmed that a 39-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incidents - he has been taken to Raigmore Hospital.
The confirmation comes after a woman was found injured at a property in the Tarskavaig area on the island at around 9am.
Emergency services rushed to Skye and the surrounding area, Dornie, near Eilean Donan Castle, in response to the situation.
The woman was taken to Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
Around half an hour later, another incident at a property in the Teangue area of Skye was reported. The 47-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
Officers later went to a property in Dornie, Wester Ross, after a report of a firearm being discharged.
A man was taken to Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, after suffering serious injuries during the incident, while a woman was taken to Broadford Hospital.
Multiple police cars, police helicopters and ambulance crews were seen on Skye throughout the day, with locals taking to social media to share updates on community groups.
Chief Superintendent Conrad Trickett, the local policing commander for Highlands and Islands Division, 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 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 co-operation as our investigation progresses.
“Anyone who believes they may have any information which could help our enquiries is asked to call 101, quoting reference 0713 of 10 August, 2022, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
Ian Blackford, SNP MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber, said the news had “shocked the place to the core”.
Speaking to Radio Forth News, he said: “We don’t have an awful lot of crime in these areas.
“For people to hear the news of today’s incidents that have taken place in three separate occasions, I think it’s really shocked the place to the core, it’s shocked people that this sort of thing can happen.
“It’s a terrible, terrible day that these things have come to Skye and Lochalsh.
“It takes some time for some of these communities to recover from this and it’s really important that we make sure all the support is there for the families.”
He thanked emergency services for stopping the incident from spreading further than it did.
Finance Secretary Kate Forbes added: "The tragic news emerging in Skye and Lochalsh is simply devastating. West Highland communities are close-knit, this will shatter us to the core. We grieve with those who involved.
"I’d like to thank Police Scotland & the emergency services for their ongoing efforts and investigations. I stress again what the police have said, the man is in custody, there is no further threat to public safety and it is not believed to be a terrorist incident."
Douglas Ross, the Scottish Conservative leader and MSP for the Highlands and Islands region, said his "heart goes out" to those affected by the "appalling" incidents.
"I want to recognise the prompt response and bravery of our emergency services who managed to prevent the situation escalating further and went above and beyond to protect people," he added.
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