By Cara Sulieman
ANGRY residents are calling for an Edinburgh pub to be shut down after two men walked in and shot a man in the leg at the weekend.
The 24-year-old was rushed to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary after the attack in Jock’s Lodge pub on London Road on Sunday night.
He was released this (Mon) morning after being treated for his wounds.
Police are looking for two men in connection with the shooting and said that the pub would be closed for “some considerable time”.
This (Mon) morning it was still sealed off as police worked inside the bar area.
Stretcher
Officers stood guard over the cordon, which stretched from the lane next to the bar down to the side of the beer garden.
Two residential bins for the flats across the road from the pub were also sealed off.
Forensic officers in white suits were searching bins in the area and a police firearms dog was called out to search for the gun.
Neighbours said that they didn’t initially hear anything, but watched as a young man was stretchered out of the premises after the attack.
Jacky Miceli, 39, lives on the top floor across the road from the pub.
The housewife said that they had noticed the ambulance arrive and watched from their window as they scene unfolded.
She said: “We were actually in the kitchen and when we came through there was an ambulance car and about seven police cars and the dogs were out.
“About five minutes later a guy came out on a stretcher lying on his front. He had an oxygen mask on and was leaning on his elbows. His head was back and he seemed to be conscious.
“The ambulance stayed there for about five minutes before putting its sirens on and driving away.
“No one was allowed in or out of the pub all night after that. Forensics were going in with their white suits and masks on.
“At about 10.45pm they started taking the people out of the pub in pairs and putting them in police cars before driving them away.
“I think the shooting was in the bar bit of the pub because the police were pointing and looking through the window to the bar. They’ve not been in the lounge part very much today at all.
“There’s tons of rubbish down the back lane behind the pub, there’s a skip and hundreds of black bin liners and freezers, that sort of thing. It seems to be a tipping ground.
“They’ve sealed off our bins but not looked in them yet.”
“Want to know it’s safe”
The mother of two said that the pub is usually quite rowdy and that a karaoke night and disco attracts people on a Sunday night.
She added: “If they jumped over the fence in the beer garden, it wouldn’t have been the first time.
“The fence at the back is broken so they could have jumped down there. And it’s a high fence but the tables are high so you can stand on them and easily get over the fence.
“Every time there is a fight it’s from that pub.
“I have got two children in here I want to know it is safe.
“My daughter was out at a concert last night and I needed to know it was going to be safe for her to come back past all that.”
Another resident in the same block of flats, Roshan Bhattari, 26, said: “I have lived here since January– you get the odd fight but that’s what you expect living next to a pub.
“I’m really shocked by this.”
And one resident, who did not want to be named, said that she hoped the pub would be shut down as it causes a lot of trouble for the neighbours.
She said: “It’s not been that bad since Limelite opened next door and went a bit more upmarket.
“Before you would get folk coming out from each pub and fighting with each other but it’s been more quiet recently.
“But Jock’s Lodge is a horrible bar – I hope they close it down after this.”
“Enjoying a drink”
There were unconfirmed reports that the incident may be related to an ongoing feud between two families in the area.
Lothian and Borders Police said that they were appealing for witnesses.
Detective Inspector Colin Boyle said: “A 24-year-old man was shot and stabbed in the leg. He was also punched to the head.
“He has been discharged from hospital this morning.
“Nobody else was injured.
“We believe they have come in to the pub where he has been enjoying a drink and attacked him. There is nothing to indicate this was a random attack.
“There were upwards of 30 people in the pub at the time and we are still trying to contact some people to talk to them.”
DI Boyle said that the police are looking for two men in connection with the attack, and are still searching for the weapons.
He added: “We have carried out extensive enquiries in relation to CCTV and it looks as though we have potential for footage.
“We are looking for the gun and any other weapon that may have been used. We are still at a very early stage and have quite a large area to search.
“I would say it is quite a serious incident when somebody walks into a pub and discharges a firearm. We are keeping an open mind regarding the motive.
“A pub shooting is relatively rare in Edinburgh. We will be carrying out regular patrols and increased presence in the area to reassure the public.”
Police are looking for two men believed to be aged between mid 20s and mid 30s who ran off towards Meadowbank Stadium after the attack.
One was wearing a dark coloured jacket and the other a dark coloured hooded top.
