Man left with serious head injuries after city centre attack

A man suffered serious head injuries after a "violent and frightening attack" near Waverley train station in Edinburgh city centre.

He was walking on Waverley Bridge towards Market Street with two friends at about 3.30am on Sunday when they were approached by a man.

He assaulted the 25-year-old, leaving him with serious head and facial injuries.

The attacker, and a group of men he had been with, then fled in an unknown direction.

Emergency crews were called to the scene and the victim was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for treatment, where he is in a serious condition.

Detective Constable Graham McIlwraith, of Gayfield CID, said: This was a violent and frightening attack for the victim, and we are eager to trace the man responsible as soon as possible.

I would ask anyone who was in the Waverley Bridge area in the early hours of Sunday morning, and saw either the incident, or the man and his companions in the vicinity, to please get in touch with us immediately.''

The suspect is white and in his mid-twenties. He has an average build with short dark wavy hair and was believed to be wearing a beige or brown t-shirt.

He was with three or four other men, all in their mid-twenties, with one wearing a blue t-shirt. All of these men witnessed the incident.

Police Scotland asked anyone with information to contact officers at Gayfield CID on 101, quoting incident number 0973 of July 23, or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111