Man seriously attacked at troubled flats
NEIGHBOURS have told of their shock after a man was seriously assaulted in front of horrified parents taking their children to school.
They said the victim had been left “hunched double” in agony after the attack, which happened yards from a school near the bottom entrance to the Northview Court multi-storey flats shortly before 9am yesterday.
It is believed the 45-year-old victim had just taken his son to school when he was set upon at the main door leading into the flats in West Pilton.
A 25-year-old man has since been arrested and charged in connection with the serious and was due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today.
One mum, who had just dropped her three-year-old daughter at Pirniehall Nursery, said she heard a commotion and saw two men brawling.
She said: “The guys were shouting and fighting. It was happening as people were taking their kids to school.
“There was blood everywhere, all over the floor and street. It was horrible.
“I don’t feel safe around here. There are so many things happening here and it’s always this building. It’s an absolute nightmare.
“The area is terrible for drugs. It’s always drugs or alcohol causing the problems.”
Police and an ambulance rushed to the scene and found the victim with blood pouring from his wound.
He was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary where he was treated for a severe puncture injury.
A neighbour on the stair, who did not want to be named, said he was shocked when he heard about the attack.
“I went downstairs at about 9am and it had just happened. A man was in the ambulance.
“The police had shut off the front so I had to go another way out.
“He was just dropping his bairn off at school with his wife, it’s terrible what has happened. I think he’s going to be OK, but it’s not nice at all.”
Lollipop lady Pat Leamont, 70, was helping schoolchildren to cross Pennywell Road when she saw paramedics arrive.
She said: “I didn’t know what was happening. I just saw the ambulance arrive and he was hunched over double.
“The chap was obviously hurt, he couldn’t stand straight.
“He was hunched over and there were people there helping him.
“He was in the ambulance a good wee while before it drove off.”
The pensioner, who has done the job for more than 30 years, said the area had got worse in recent years.
She added: “These flats are a nightmare, they’re famous for bother. There’s always someone putting someone down. I wouldn’t live there.
“There’s a lot of young ’uns there and there’s a lot of drugs going round.”
Police cordoned off the area and officers kept guard on the stairwell following the attack.