High visibility police patrols in Gilmerton

Police will today be carrying out high visibility patrols a week on from two firearms incidents in the south of Edinburgh last Saturday night.

A week on from these serious incidents, and at the same time of around 9pm, police will be speaking to witnesses, stopping cars and appealing for anyone who remembers anything suspicious from last Saturday to come forward.

On Saturday 20th September shots were discharged at a parked vehicle within The Murrays Brae around 9.30pm and a suspicious, but non-viable, device was left.

A few minutes later shots were discharged at a property in Gilmerton Dykes Drive.

Around this time, another non-viable device was left at Walter Scott Avenue.

There are no reports of anyone having been injured as a result of any of the incidents but they are now being investigated by the Organised Crime Unit.

A motorbike was seen in the Murrays at the time of these incidents on Saturday and it is believed there were two people on the bike. They were wearing lighter coloured trousers, dark tops and the rear passenger possibly not wearing a helmet.

Police are now looking for anyone who has further information on this bike, or other information that can assist, to come forward.

Chief Inspector Richard Horan said: “We are continuing high visibility police patrols in the area and during the evening of Saturday we will be focusing on speaking to as many people as possible to see if they have information that can help with our enquiries.

“At each location we will be engaging with the community, and handing out flyers with details of how people can get in touch with us. I’d like to encourage the public to approach and speak with officers.”

Detective Chief Inspector Kenny Gray said: “The investigation is making progress, and we have detained four people in a crackdown on organised crime. But we are still looking for members of the community to come forward with information. We know that there are people out there who hold the key to identifying those responsible.

“If you remember seeing a motorbike with two people on it, one of whom was possibly not wearing a helmet, which is an unusual sight, in the Murrays and Gilmerton Dykes area of the city, then please get in touch.

Anyone with information can contact the charity Crimestoppers, which is completely anonymous, on 0800 555 111, or Police Scotland on 101.