Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon has apologised for the persecution of more than 4,000 people – mostly women – who were accused of witchcraft between the 16th and 18th centuries. In what Sturgeon called “injustice on a colossal scale”, a law passed in Scotland in 1563 made witchcraft a capital offence. It reflected the superstition and panic that spread through parts of Europe and the US colonies at the time, including the city of Salem, Massachusetts. At least 2,500 people are believed to have been killed under Scottish law, with those accused often coerced into false confessions. The apology came after lobbying from a group called the Witches of Scotland, and Sturgeon said it was important to acknowledge injustice “no matter how historic”.