Family evening out ends in gang attack

Man forced to take unpaid time off work

’Racist’ abuse shouted during ordeal

FIVE black men were hospitalised after an alleged racist attack outside a city centre pub.

Police were called to the incident in George Street which started after a gang of white men began taunting a black couple.

Brian Chitemere, who suffered a dislocated elbow in the incident, today said the attack was "terrifying".

The 30-year-old staff nurse had been enjoying an evening out with his wife, Memory, 27, and companions, including his two brothers, in the Standing Order when trouble started shortly after 10pm on Saturday.

Mr Chitemere, who moved to the city from London seven years ago and was born in Zimbabwe, said his brother Gary left the pub with his girlfriend to catch the bus home when they were approached by five men.

According to Mr Chitemere, the group began racially abusing the couple and intimidating them with physical threats and slow hand claps.

"I was sitting in the pub with my friends when my brother’s girlfriend came running in," he said.

"She was crying, saying that a gang of guys was beating up Gary. They were calling them ‘f****** niggers’ and telling them to ‘f****** get out of town’.

"I ran out to help him and I found there were about 20 guys there and they started punching me and my friends. I fell on the ground, and they just kept beating me, even when I pleaded for somebody to call an ambulance for me. It was then that the police came and stopped it, and started taking statements from me.

"I told them what had happened, but the crowd of guys were still hanging around making racist comments."

All five men - Farai Madada, Alvin, Gary, and Brian Chitemere, and Tapiwa Matipano - sustained bruising and swelling as a consequence of the attack and received treatment at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. But nobody has been arrested in connection with the incident.

Mr Chitemere, from Muirhouse, has been forced to take unpaid time off work at a city nursing home as his arm has been set in plaster as a result of his injuries.

"I’m in a lot of pain, and I’m having to receive more treatment for the injury," he said. "I’ve never been involved in any sort of fights in the past or in any police business. It was terrible.

"I was so scared, even now I am still shaking about it."

Mrs Chitemere was similarly outraged by the attack.

"I think it’s appalling what has happened," she said. "I never thought I’d see the day where I’d have to think twice about coming into the centre of Edinburgh in the evening. It’s just disgusting."

A police spokesman confirmed that an incident occurred outside the pub on Saturday night. "When officers arrived at the scene, they found an estimated 20 people involved in the incident," he said.

"There was a large group of men and women standing around outside the pub in question. Allegations of an assault were made, but due to the number of people involved and the fact that several of them had been drinking, establishing exactly what had happened was not possible.

"As with any incident of this nature, officers will be carrying out further inquiries to find out what happened. Anyone who may have witnessed the incident in George Street is asked to contact the police."

A Commission for Racial Equality spokesman added: "We are shocked at the horrific nature of this crime. We expect the police will be investigating all avenues so that the perpetrators are brought to justice. If there is a racial element to this offence it is important that it is thoroughly investigated and properly handled."

In March, an Asian cricketer was the subject of a racially motivated attack in front of his two children.

The 38-year-old man was walking in from training in Inverleith Park when he was set upon by three teenagers who were shouting racist abuse.

As a result of the attack he suffered a broken nose and bruising to his face.