Police in letter appeal to help find shooting suspects

Published on Monday 13 April 2009 20:21

EFFORTS were stepped up yesterday to find two suspects wanted in connection with a firearms incident in Edinburgh.

Police officers posted letters appealing for information through residents' doors 24 hours after shots were fired in the Gilmerton area.

High-visibility patrols were in operation near to where the semi-detached house was targeted in Fernieside Crescent. Police are hoping to check any CCTV images that may have captured images of the suspects.

Shocked neighbours said they were woken by the gunfire at 5:40am on Saturday. Two men were seen running off and the area was sealed off by police overnight while they carried out a fingertip search of the area.

One elderly man, who did not want to be named, said he had heard that a shotgun had been used in the attack. He said: "Apparently the guy living here came to the door and the two men had a shotgun. He dived into the living room, but the staircase is meant to be covered in shot pellets. It's a quiet street and you don't expect that."

There has been speculation locally linking the attack to an ongoing drug feud in the city.

Police said two men in their late teens or early twenties were seeing fleeing the area following the shot at around 5:40am. They were wearing dark clothing with scarves pulled up over their faces, as well as wearing hoods or hats.

The letter from Detective Sergeant Alistair Hutchens tried to reassure locals, stating: "This incident would appear to be an isolated incident and inquiries will continue in an effort to trace the person responsible. Uniformed police officers will be patrolling the area and will also be available as a point of contact."

And he added: "We would also ask anyone who has private CCTV installed in their homes that may be of assistance to the police dealing with this incident to contact Craigmillar CID."