Gang violence worries as man attacked
Fears are growing in Castlemilk about the return of gang violence after a 23-year-old man was attacked in the early hours of sunday morning.
Detectives are probing the attack, which took place on Castlemilk Drive near the bus stop and junction with Dougrie Drive.
The victim was approached by a group of six to 10 youths, both male and female, who assaulted him and ran off in the direction of the swimming pool.
The 23-year-old was taken by ambulance to the Queen Elizabeth university Hospital for treatment for a significant head injury. He is currently still in hospital where his condition is described as stable.
After the attack, a post on the popular Castlemilk Community News Facebook page urged anyone with information to come forward.
An admin of the group wrote: “We don’t know much information to say anything else but we had this same problem the last two summers with under-age drinking, violence, knife crime and territorialism after it [was] looking as if we had turned our back on all that.”
They later wrote: “Please with the summer coming up help keep your teenage sons, daughters, sisters, brothers safe.
“It’s so easy for good kids to get caught up in a bad crowd and get a hold of cheap drink. This was a unprovoked and random attack by a group of drunk teenagers on an innocent local man- someone must know something about one of the 10 people involved.”
“If you were there but didn’t take part please don’t be scared to come forward because you will all be caught eventually.’’
Detective sergeant Martin smith, of Cathcart CID, is appealing for witnesses.
He said: “our enquiries are at a very early stage, however, it is believed that this attack was unprovoked. unfortunately due to the severity of the victim’s injuries, we’ve been unable to speak to him as yet.
“Where the assault took place is a very busy thoroughfare, and even at the late hour would have been busy with taxis or other motorists coming from the city centre or going in to the city centre. The victim had been walking home from a nearby licensed premises when he was assaulted.
“We’re undertaking a number of enquiries into the assault, which includes speaking to local residents nearby and accessing CCTV. However, I would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed this terrible attack on this young man. At the moment we have no clear motive for the attack which is very concerning.
“I’d like to reassure the local community that significant enquiries are underway to trace those responsible, however, I would like to speak to anyone who was in the vicinity of Castlemilk Drive at the time of the incident. you may have information which could assist with our enquiries.”
Anyone with information can contact police on 101. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.