THE hunt is on to find a biker gang who rampaged through Edinburgh at the weekend, injuring two pedestrians.
In the latest in a long line of problems with bikers in the capital, a group of off-road motorcyclists – some of them thought to be joyriding on stolen vehicles – charged through the city.
As well as the city centre, several areas on the outskirts – including Portobello, Leith, Dalkeith Road and Craigmillar on the east and south side – were all affected before a collision with pedestrians in Drylaw in the north of the city at around 1.30pm on Saturday.
Two pedestrians were injured in that incident but neither was seriously hurt. Police issued an immediate appeal for information.
Joyriders on motorbikes have been causing problems in Edinburgh for some time now. During the summer police launched Operation Soteria to emphasise safety, and in response teenage bikers on stolen motorcycles smashed police car windows.
In June 2016, 14-year-old Brad Williamson was killed when the motorcycle on which he was riding was involved in collision with a Toyota car in the Silverknowes area on the north of the city.
A few months later, there were reports in the Muirhouse area of pedestrians being assaulted by passing motorcyclists.
Last August a 10-year-old schoolboy was badly hurt when two joyriders on a powerful Triumph motorbike knocked him down on a pedestrian crossing in Drylaw. He needed surgery for his injuries, which included a fractured thigh bone.
One source in north Edinburgh said yesterday: “It will be the same wee mob again getting their kicks out of terrorising local people. It is high time they were caught and jailed.”
In a statement issued by Police Scotland the force said it understood people’s frustration.
Chief Inspector Alan Carson said: “We take this type of behaviour extremely seriously and will use all the resources at our disposal to tackle it.
“Unfortunately, the message is not getting through to these individuals despite several fatalities and serious injuries in the past months and years.
“I understand how frustrated the public are over this type of dangerous behaviour. I urge anyone with information that can assist us to trace those responsible to call us.”
Anyone who can help the police with their inquiries into Saturday’s collision is asked to contact them by dialling 101 and quoting incident number 1900.
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