POLICE are hunting a Hogmanay hooligan who smashed a car windscreen after throwing a traffic cone off a bridge onto a city street.
The missile was thrown from the 70ft high North Bridge in Edinburgh by an unknown individual in the early hours of New Year’s Day.
It struck the windscreen of a private hire vehicle on Market street at 4.55am with a male driver inside, who escaped any injuries.
Police are appealing for witnesses to the “very serious incident” to come forward.
A similar incident happened in November last year when a woman treated for a gash to her head after being hit by a bottle thrown from the same bridge.
In 2006 an Australian man was charged for a similar act when he nearly paralysed 23-year-old Irish student Katy Flannery.
Andrew Smith, 29, threw a traffic cone off nearby George IV Bridge over the city’s Cowgate street – leaving Ms Flannery with spinal injuries and raising fears she would never walk again after the cone struck her.
He was later charged with culpable and reckless conduct after handing himself in to police and was ordered to carry out 180 hours of community service.
Describing the New Year’s Day incident, Constable Seona Fleming said: “This is a very serious incident as the driver of the private hire vehicle had a very lucky escape – he could have been very seriously injured as a result of this.
“There would still have been a lot of people out and about shortly before 5am on New Year’s Day as they made their way home from Hogmanay celebrations, so we are keen to hear from anyone who may have been on North Bridge, and who saw what happened, to contact us.”
Anyone with any information should contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
