University student 'kicked and hit' by two teenagers while reading book in Princes Street Gardens
The graduate student was attacked from behind while sitting on the grass on Sunday evening.
A university student who was attacked by two teenagers while reading his book in Princes Street Gardens on Sunday has described how he was left feeling “weak and humiliated”.
The 24-year-old graduate student, who didn’t want to be named, was enjoying a sit-down in the gardens at around 6.40pm after working on his dissertation in a nearby café.
“I was reading a book, sitting on the grass on my own,” he said. “Completely randomly, two people started attacking me from behind, a boy and a girl.
“The female had a stick and she was hitting me on my face. The boy was kicking me very aggressively.
“I was asking them what was going on, but they weren’t responsive. I noticed there was someone older with them and I asked her to explain or ask them to get off me. She replied saying ‘why would they stop?’
“I tried to get up and the boy pushed me so I stumbled. The girl tried to snatch my backpack with my laptop in it but I managed to grab it back.
“I managed to get away and started recording on my phone. The girl kept attacking me even though I was filming.”
The student, who is from Saudi Arabia and is completing a Masters in social and behavioural science at the University of Edinburgh, said the ordeal caught him “completely off guard”.
“In the moment I was trying to process what should I do, what are the right actions?” he said. “Should I defend myself physically or should I just walk away?”
“In the end I think I did the right thing by getting my phone out to record it.”
He continued: “When I was leaving the park I felt weak and humiliated. But I feel better about it all now”.
The student said he has felt reassured by the response he has received from the police, but is concerned about the knock-on impact the incident is having on his studies.
“My mind has been super active about the whole thing and I haven’t really been in a mental state to focus on my dissertation, which is due next month. I think I will speak to my supervisor about getting an extension.”
He said in the days following the attack he has felt worried about walking around the city by himself in the evening.
“Yesterday I went on a hike and came back quite late. I was definitely cautious. I am more hypervigilant.”
A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: “Around 9.20pm on Sunday, 12 July, 2026, officers received a report of an assault on East Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh.
“Enquiries are ongoing.”