Lothian and Borders Police are appealing for witnesses after a young boy was assaulted in the Muirhouse area of Edinburgh on Monday afternoon (21 March).
The 11-year-old and his sister were playing in the grounds of St Paul’s Church on Muirhouse Avenue, near Pennywell Road, about 4.15pm when a man approached them. He grabbed the boy by the neck, pinned him against the fence, then threw him to the ground before running off and getting on a bus (possibly a 37) on Pennywell Road.
The suspect is described as being white, in his early 20s, 5ft 8ins tall, of slim build with a full moustache. He was wearing black tracksuit bottoms, a red hooded Nike jumper, with the hood pulled up over a Nike baseball cap.
A police spokesperson said: “Although he wasn’t injured, this has been a terrifying experience for the young boy. We are appealing for anyone who may have been in the area at the time, and who may have seen what happened, to get in touch.”
Anyone with information should contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or the charity Crimestoppers in confidence and complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.
Dave Pickering
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