Police probe murder bid on teen couple

A MAN was slashed by a thug who also sprayed the victim’s girlfriend with an unknown substance during a murder bid in Shotts.

Detectives are investigating the attempted murder on the couple which happened in the early hours of Sunday.

The force said that the victim, 19, was walking on a footpath near to Shottskirk Road along with his girlfriend, also 19, when a small silver car pulled up beside them.

A man got out of the car and attacked the victim with a bladed weapon and also sprayed the woman with an unknown substance. The suspect then got back into the car and the car drove off in the direction of Dyfrig Street. The attack happened at around 3.15am.

The victims were taken by ambulance to University Hospital Wishaw where the woman was treated and then released. The man is currently being treated for injuries to his head and body and hospital staff describe his condition as stable.

Police Scotland confirmed that they will analyse the substance thrown at the woman.

Detective Constable Mark Cummings at Wishaw CID said: “This was a violent attack which has left this young man with serious injuries.

“We have yet to establish a motive for the attack, which we are treating as attempted murder, but know that the couple had been returning from a night out in Shotts town centre and had left there around 3am.

“As such I am keen to speak to anyone who had either seen the couple walking home or anyone who saw a small, silver car in the vicinity either before or after the attack took place.”

Anyone with information should contact Wishaw CID via telephone number 101.