A police investigation is underway after two couples were subjected to homophobic attacks on Union Street between 3am and 3.20am on Sunday morning.
During the first attack two men, aged 26 and 32, were walking home from CC Blooms when they were pushed from behind by two men then punched in the face.
Shortly afterwards a 29-year-old man and a 36-year-old man were walking from the GHQ nightclub nearby.
Two men then shouted offensive comments at the victims and spat at them, before punching one of the men.
Both suspects had eastern European accents and were in their 20s or 30s.
One wore a dark bomber jacket and the other had shoulder-length blond hair.
Constable Siobhan Mannion from West End Police Station said: “This attack left the victims extremely shaken and it is unacceptable that anyone should be targeted in this way.
“I would ask anyone who witnessed the incident or may have any information which can assist our enquiries to please contact officers as soon as possible.”
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
