Concerns as weekend of violence sweeps Lothians

One of the most serious incidents saw a 36-year-old rushed to hospital after being stabbed in West Pilton Green at around 1.30am on Saturday.

Police said that two men, aged 25 and 27, were arrested and charged following the incident while the victim was expected to be discharged from hospital yesterday.

That evening, officers were called to the Cargo Bar in Fountainbridge after a fight broke out inside.

A police spokesman said: “Police have arrested and charged a man in connection with an alleged assault that happened at a licensed premises in Fountainbridge around 9.45pm on Saturday. He was due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday.”

Bosses at Cargo said they did not want to comment.

On Friday night, police were called to the Station Tavern in Gorgie Road after reports that a man had been hit in the face with a sock containing a snooker ball.

A 30-year-old old man had suffered a cut to his head and was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for treatment, but officers said he had not made a complaint over the incident.

No-one at the Station Tavern could be reached for comment.

Meanwhile, another man reportedly suffered a fracture to his face in an assault near the Lidl store in West Granton Road late on Saturday night.

Police and paramedics were also called to St Martin’s Place in Haddington, East Lothian around the same time after reports of a disturbance in the garden of a house.

Officers arrived at 2.55am to find a 24-year-old woman suffering from possible concussion and she was taken to the ERI for treatment.

A police spokeswoman said inquiries into the incident remained ongoing.

A spokesman for the  Scottish Ambulance Service said that the string of assaults had added to the already stretched  workload of paramedics. He added: “Every weekend is extremely busy for us. Our crews were kept very busy last weekend.”

Forth councillor Allan  Jackson, whose ward includes West Pilton Green where  the stabbing took place, said: “It’s very disappointing and upsetting to hear about this incident.  The victim seems to be recovering well, but it remains very concerning that this has happened as things in the area have been getting better recently.

“I will be in touch with the police and local community safety officers at the Pilton office to see how things are, and to determine whether any measures can be taken to prevent such incidents from occurring in future.”

A total of 349 serious assaults were reported to police in Edinburgh between last April and March, a nine per cent drop on the 382 reported during the previous year. Seven out of ten of last year’s serious assaults in the city were solved by the force.

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