Racist gang in hammer attack on Asian men in parked car

The young victims were sitting in a parked car in Springfield Street, Leith, when they were surrounded by the thugs in broad daylight.

Police said the group taunted the men with racist insults and made references to the July 7 bombings in London which killed 56 people, and the failed follow-up attack on July 21.

One of the attackers started kicking the car causing dents. Another threw a hammer at the front window, smashing the glass and hitting the passenger on the shoulder.

The victims, who were aged between 18 and 20, managed to drive off and reported the attack at Gayfield Square police station.

A Lothian and Borders police spokeswoman said: "This incident was racially motivated and the behaviour of the group to two men who were simply parking their car is totally abhorrent.

"It was apparent to the victims that they had been targeted because they were Asian as both were racially abused during the incident. Lothian and Borders Police will not tolerate racist behaviour. It is a criminal offence and will always be treated very seriously. An inquiry is now under way to try and trace the culprits.

"Fortunately the two victims, though badly shaken by the incident, were not seriously injured, although the passenger suffered some bruising to his upper body.

"We would urge anyone who has been a victim of racist or hate crimes to report it. Recording offences allows us to build a realistic picture of racist crimes in our force area."

The attack, which happened at 7pm on Friday night, comes less than a fortnight after police announced increased measures to protect Edinburgh's ethnic minorities. Officers have visited mosques and places of worship to check security .

Patrolling police officers are also paying extra visits to vulnerable businesses, such as shops run by members of ethnic communities. But Edinburgh's only Asian councillor, Shami Khan, said many race hate victims were not calling the police. And he said many were receiving crank calls and "terrorist" taunts.

He said: "There are so many cases I can think of where people aren't going to the police because they're frightened - we're talking nearly every day.

"Asian people feel harassed. They are worried about suffering a similar backlash to that seen in England. But the London bombers are criminals, they're not Muslims. Even if they came from Muslim communities according to our religion they are no longer Muslims themselves because of what they have done."

He added: "I am calling on the police, the local authority and the Scottish Executive to set up a taskforce to look at how they can protect the Asian community."

Nina Giles, director of the Edinburgh Racial Equality Council, said the feeling among Asians was one of fear and persecution.

She said: "People have been ringing up Asian businesses and calling whoever answers a terrorist. It's appalling."

The attacker who kicked the car is described as white, 5ft 11ins, of medium build, aged 23 to 25, with a skinhead haircut, pale complexion, brown and blue stripy polo shirt, blue jeans and white trainers.

The man with the hammer is described as white, 5ft 11ins, skinny, 23 to 25, of pale complexion, with short black hair with a long fringe, white T-shirt, light blue jeans and white trainers.

The facts

POLICE have launched a high-profile programme of "community reassurance" in the wake of the London bombings.

All attacks are being monitored on a daily basis so police can spot any worrying trends if they emerge.

Officers have also visited mosques and other places of worship to check on security arrangements.

A specially-created security liaison group of police and community leaders has been set up to ensure officers know immediately of any problems. Although there has been no significant rise in racist crime in Edinburgh in the wake of the terrorist attacks, there have been a number of verbal threats and cases of racist graffiti daubed on mosques.

Hours after the London bombings, which killed 56 and injured more than 700, a mosque in Annandale Street and a nearby Pakistani community centre were subjected to racist graffiti.

And a week later, an Asian teenager was brutally attacked on a busy city street in daylight.