THREE police officers needed hospital treatment after a gang launched a suspected CS gas attack on a home in Edinburgh.
The terrifying incident involved a gang trying to barge their way into the house and then unleashing the toxic substance on the occupants.
Four people, including two teenagers, were inside the house in the Sighthill area of Edinburgh when the men arrived.
A 46-year-old man blocked the front door to stop the men from getting inside at around 10.20pm last night (wed).
He suffered facial and leg injuries as he tried to keep the gang out of his home on Forrester Park Drive.
The gang then sprayed the gas into the home before running off.
Three police officers who responded to the attack had to go to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary after being exposed to the poisonous gas.
They were all checked over and released from hospital.
Today (thur) the street was quiet and there was no reply at the flat door where the incident is thought to have happened.
The door had been repaired with a large piece of wood and spots of blood could be seen in the landing of the flat and down the stairs.
Sasha Reid, 18, who stays around the corner from the flat said she “thought a train had come off the rails” because of the number of police cars.
She said she saw the blue flashing lights and came out to look with her niece, Ashley Speirs, 10.
She said: “There were police cars, fire engines and ambulance. There were even vans that I have never seen before in my life.
“The whole street was blocked off. I spoke to a police officer who said there was nothing to worry about.
“I thought the train had come off the tracks because there were so many cars.
“A gang of teenagers were talking to firemen and when they were finished I went to talk to them.
“They said somebody had been beaten up and gas had been poured over them or something.”
Ashley added: “I saw like seven fire engines. There was police cars and the incident response and ambulance there as well.”
Jason Purcell, 20, lives in the block of flats next to where the incident happened.
He said: “I was out walking my dog. There was a fire incident report van, seven fire engines, a telescopic lift for the fire brigade, four incident ambulances, two normal ambulances, four police cars and two vans.
“The police were standing in the garden taking statements from people.
“It was just the shock of seeing them all there. You never hear of anything like this happening down here ever.”
Lothian and Borders Police are appealing for witnesses as they try and track down the gang of men who attacked the home.
A police spokesman said: “This was a frightening experience for the occupants and we are carrying out local enquiries to identify those responsible.
“Anyone who remembers seeing a group of men acting suspiciously in the Forrester Park Drive area at around 10.20pm last night is asked to contact police immediately.”
Anyone with any information can contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or the charity Crimestoppers in confidence and complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.
