Police hunt gunman after shooting on army family estate

POLICE are hunting a gunman who blasted a hole in the front door of a house on a quiet residential street that is home to military families.

More than one shot was fired in what is understood to have been a targeted attack on a semi-detached house situated less than a mile from the headquarters of the army's 2nd division in the north west of Edinburgh.

No-one was injured in the shooting in the early hours of Wednesday, although it is thought that people were inside the house at the time.

A large bullet hole was visible on the front door of the property yesterday - while police teams were carrying out investigations around the site of the incident in the Craigiehall estate, near Cramond.

Sniffer dogs were being used as forensic teams carried out detailed searches.

Neighbours said they heard a loud noise in the usually quiet street shortly after midnight.

"I heard the shots but didn't think too much of it because there's a farmer nearby who is shooting quite often," said 24-year-old Lauren Binnie, who lives nearby.

"The police have told us it is nothing to worry about, but when your street is totally cordoned off it is a bit worrying."

She added: "It's quite shocking that this has happened here. It's quite a quiet street and people keep themselves to themselves."

Another neighbour, Mia Ellery, 27, said she had previously heard screaming at the property.

She added: "I was woken up by a shot but thought that I was dreaming."

When police arrived at the house, there was damage to the front door, but no injuries had been reported.

The house targeted in the attack is less than a mile from the 2nd Division's base which commands forces in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the north of England.

An army spokesman said: "We can confirm that there was an incident near to the headquarters of the 2nd Division.

"The incident is being dealt with by the police."

Police have said they are keeping an open mind in their inquiries, though it is believed the attack is not being treated as random.

Detective Sergeant Neil Spowart, of Lothian and Borders Police, described the incident as "very concerning".

"This is a quiet residential area and we believe that local residents would notice anything untoward or any strangers in the area before or after the incident", he added.

Craigiehall has been the home of the 2nd Division since April 2000, although the estate has been host to army families for more than 70 years.