Graduate hurt in knife attack

A GRADUATE walking home from work was stabbed three times in the chest by a pair of thugs who robbed him of his laptop computer in an unprovoked attack.

The 43-year-old victim had been walking along Ferry Road when he was set upon by two men wearing hooded tops who knifed him during the robbery shortly after midnight on Wednesday.

Later that night, a 46-year-old man was repeatedly slashed in the head by an attacker in an unconnected incident in Dalkeith, leaving him needing 20 stitches to his wounds.

Detectives today appealed for witnesses to come forward in both attacks.

In the first incident, the victim, a recent university graduate, had been walking home from work with a friend moments before the assault.

Detective Constable Ally Sellar, from Gayfield Square police station, is investigating the incident.

He said: "He had just parted company with his friend at the junction between Ferry Road and Ferry Road Drive when two men ran towards him.

"They punched and kicked him to the ground before one of the suspects stabbed him three times in the side of the chest with a knife.

"This was a very violent, unprovoked attack on a totally defenceless victim.

"His rucksack containing a 1000 laptop with his course work on it, a couple of hard drives and some textbooks were stolen.

"The suspects were in their early 20s and were wearing dark clothing. They may have been under the influence of drink or drugs at the time.

"The stolen rucksack had the design of a Swiss flag on it."

DC Sellar added: "A group of girls in their late teens or early 20s attending a nearby party came to the victim's aid, and he was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for treatment and subsequently released.

"We would urge the group who found him to come forward as they may hold vital information on what happened.

"We are also looking to trace the driver of a Range Rover who drove by as the attack was taking place. We would be keen to speak to any of these potential witnesses, and we are appealing for them to contact us as a matter of urgency."

DC Sellar said CCTV cameras from the area were being examined while door-to-door enquiries had been carried out.

In the second stabbing, the victim was attacked at around 9.15pm on Wednesday in Findlay Place in the Mayfield area of Dalkeith by a man wielding a bladed weapon.

The victim suffered lacerations to his head and was taken to the ERI for treatment.

Police said there was no detailed description available of the suspect, other than he may have been wearing a white top and grey jogging bottoms.

Detective Constable Stewart Campbell, from Dalkeith police station, is investigating the incident.

He said: "The victim needed 20 stitches to his head following this assault.

"We're following a positive line of inquiry and we don't believe other members of the public are in danger."

Anyone with any information on either of the incidents is asked to contact police on 0131-311 3131, or Crimestoppers on 0800-555 111.