Gang hunted after stabbing

• The 24-year-old man was chased into the gulf garage on Restalrig Road, where he was attacked. Picture: Julie Bull

Eyewitnesses claimed the 24-year-old man had been chased by three men in a car, before running into the Gulf garage on Restalrig Road last night at around 8.15pm.

They said a "stocky" attacker fled the scene in a car.

However, police later said the assailant was alone. A spokesman said the victim was involved in a fight with a male opposite the garage, and sustained a puncture wound to his chest and a cut to his forehead, before the suspect drove away in a silver hatchback car.

Paramedics fought to stabilise the victim on the forecourt of the garage as shocked residents looked on, before rushing him to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

It is understood he is in a stable condition and will receive further treatment for his injuries today.

One witness, who asked not to be named, said: "We saw the boy running down the road towards us, and three guys in a car chasing him.

"We could see the boy and he was half in the door, with his legs sticking outside.

"After that the police came and searched everywhere for the knife but I don't think they found it.

"I heard he was a boy from Niddrie, I don't know if that was why it happened."

Another eyewitness, John Mackenzie, 73, who lives across the road from the garage,

said: "The medics were leaning over him for quite a while, I think he was pretty bad, before they put him in the ambulance."

This morning, workers were seen scrubbing blood off the forecourt.

Investigating officers are now following a positive line of enquiry, but are urging anyone who was in the area and witnessed the incident to come forward.

A police spokesman said: "The victim's injuries are not life threatening, but we are treating this extremely seriously and are keen to speak to anyone with information that can assist with our enquiries.

"Anyone who was in Restalrig Road around 8.15pm last night and saw anything suspicious is asked to contact police immediately.

"Similarly, anyone who remembers seeing the silver hatchback vehicle being driven by the suspect is also asked to come forward."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or Crimestoppers, in confidence and complete anonymity on 0800 555 111. It looked new."

This morning, workers were scrubbing blood off the forecourt.

A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Police said: "Police are appealing for witnesses after a 24-year-old man was the victim of a serious assault in the Restalrig area of Edinburgh last night.

"The suspect is described as male, white, 22 to 27-years-old, with a stocky build, and shaved or short blond hair.

"Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed the assault, and who saw a black or silver car in the area at the time of the incident, to contact them immediately."

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POLICE are hunting a gang who chased and stabbed a young man after he took refuge in a 24-hour garage.

Eyewitnesses said the 24-year-old man was chased by three men in a red Citroen, and ran into the Gulf garage on Restalrig Road last night around 8.15pm.

They said a stocky man in his mid-twenties followed the victim into the store and attacked him before running back to the waiting saloon and speeding off.

Paramedics fought to stabilise the victim on the forecourt of the garage as shocked residents looked on, before rushing him to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

It is understood he is in a stable condition and will receive further treatment for his injuries today.

One witness, who asked not to be named, said: "We saw the boy running down the road towards us, and three guys in a car chasing him.

"He ran into the far away door in the garage to get away but one of them, this fat guy, jumped out of the car and chased him in.

"It was inside he was stabbed I think, we couldn't see what happened. The guy ran out and jumped back in the car and they sped off.

"We could see the boy and he was half in the door, with his legs sticking outside.

"After that the police came and searched everywhere for the knife but I don't think they found it.

"I heard he was a boy from Niddrie, I don't know if that was why it happened. They were driving a red five-seater car with four doors. It looked new."

Another eyewitness, John Mackenzie, 73, who lives across the road from the garage, said: "The medics were leaning over him for quite a while, I think he was pretty bad, before they put him in the ambulance. We couldn't see much else because the police cordoned off the whole road and made people go right around. He looked in a bad state, I hope the young lad was OK."

A spokesman for the ambulance service added: "We attended an incident at the Gulf garage on Restalrig road at 8.15pm last night. A 24-year-old male, who is thought to have been stabbed, was taken to the ERI."

A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Police said: "Police are appealing for witnesses after a 24-year-old man was the victim of a serious assault in the Restalrig area of Edinburgh last night.

"The incident happened just after 8pm last night, outside the Gulf petrol station in Restalrig Road.

"Following the assault, the victim was taken to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for treatment.

"The suspect is described as male, white, 22 to 27-years-old, with a stocky build, and shaved or short blond hair.

"Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed the assault, and who saw a black or silver car in the area at the time of the incident, to contact them immediately."

The incident comes just days after a 34-year-old man was slashed across the face in Pilton

Alexander DeVries has been left with a ten-centimetre scar across his face after being slashed with a knife by muggers who pounced on him as he walked home from his sister's house.

He was taking a shortcut through West Pilton Park when he was beaten to the ground by two men, who then took a blade to his face.

That knife assault came just hours before Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill launched a high-profile blade crackdown in the north of the Capital, an area which now accounts for a third of all such incidents in the city.

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