Reports: Police probing stabbing of 28-year-old in Fountainbridge

Police said they were aware of an incident at Upper Gilmore place on Wednesday evening.

It has been reported locally that a 28-year-old man was stabbed six times in an attack in a hostel on Upper Gilmore Place on Wednesday May 2.

Named in a national newspaper as Shabaz Ali, a Syrian refugree, it is was reported that he was stabbed twice in the side and four times in the chest.

Ali’s dad, Silvan, was on the phone to his son when the group attacked.

Speaking to The National Ali said he could hear them shout “Why are you still here, why are you not back in your own country?” as they struck his son.

According to claims made by Silvan in an interview, Ali, who works as a barber in Portobello had been concerned about the lack of security in the building.

Silvan, who works in the city’s Rojava restaurant, said “We’ve been in the hospital now for three days. My son is in a dangerous place. He had surgery on his stomach, his chest is open.

“My son has never been in a fight before. He works and he sleeps. He’s a good boy.

“We ran from death in Syria, we don’t want to die here.”

Speaking to the National; a police Scotland spokeswoman said: “Police in Edinburgh are investigating after a 28-year-old man was seriously injured at a flat in Upper Gilmore Place shortly after 12am on Thursday 3rd May.

“Anyone with information which may be able to help can contact Gayfield CID via 101, quoting incident number 0072 of 3rd May, or report this anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

When contacted by the Edinburgh Evening News police confirmed there had been an incident but did not confirm if it was a racially motivated attack.