Masked men attack victim with axe in his home

A man was attacked with an axe after masked intruders broke into his home.

The 45-year-old victim was in his flat in Duddingston Row, Edinburgh, when two men wearing black balaclavas forced entry.

He was hit on the ankle with an axe, causing serious injury.

The suspects are believed to have left in a dark red SUV while their victim was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for treatment.

The incident happened at around 10.10pm on Tuesday and the man has since been released from hospital.

Detective Inspector Graham Grant said: “This has been a very serious attack that has left the occupant of the flat with a painful injury to his ankle.

“As part of this investigation we are eager to hear from anyone who remembers seeing any suspicious activity around Duddingston Row on Tuesday evening, particularly if you can help us establish any further details regarding the vehicle involved and its direction of travel after the incident.”

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a man was taken to hospital after a “violent and targeted attack” near a primary school in Newton Mearns, East Renfrewshire.

The 36-year-old was set upon by three men armed with weapons in Crookfur Road at around 12.30pm.

The suspects made off from the scene before police arrived and the victim was taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow for treatment, where he is said to be in a stable condition.

The first suspect is white, in his late 30s to early 40s, of stocky build with short dark hair.

He was wearing a grey T-shirt and driving a grey Hyundai.

The second suspect is also white and around the same age, of medium build with an either bald or shaved head.

He had a short, fair beard and was wearing a grey and white T-shirt, grey jogging bottoms. He spoke with a Glasgow accent and drove a white transit van.

The third suspect, a passenger in the van, is also white, in his mid to late 30s, of slight build and was wearing a grey hoodie with the hood up.

Following the attack, the grey Hyundai was seen driving east along Crookfur Road, while the transit van headed west.

Detective Sergeant Nick Gribben said: “This was a violent and targeted attack which took place in a busy residential area near to a primary school.

“The conduct of these individuals is completely unacceptable and extensive inquiries are ongoing to trace them.”

He urged witnesses to get in touch and, in both incidents, police appealed for dashcam footage.