Random knife attack in city

PERTH: Witness on the scene said ‘it could have been me’

A witness who rushed to help a stabbing victim in Perth feared “it could have been me” following the seemingly random attack.

A woman in her thirties was attacked with a bladed weapon at around 1am on Saturday morning as she walked from Carpenter Street towards Kinnoull Street.

The witness, who was first on the scene, said they heard “the most horrific scream” following the stabbing close to the King James pub in the city centre.

They said: “She lifted up her top and there was blood coming out.

“I kept pressure on the wound to make sure she didn’t pass out.”

The witness, who wishes to remain anonymous, told The Courier that the victim said she did not know her attacker.

They said: “She gave a description but didn’t know him, so it was just a random attack.

“The thing that gets me is that it could have easily been me.”

Police Scotland has launched an extensive investigation into the “unusual” attack.

A witness who ran to the aid of a woman stabbed in Perth city centre has said “it could have been me” following the apparently random attack.

The witness, who wishes to remain anonymous, was the first on the scene after a woman in her thirties was attacked with a bladed weapon at around 1am on Saturday morning, as she walked from Carpenter Street towards Kinnoull Street.

Police have launched an extensive investigation into the attack which occurred close to the King James pub, calling the incident “extremely rare” and “unusual”.

The witness had just left the pub and was walking with her friend when she heard “the most horrific scream”.

They said: “We looked across the street and this lassie said ‘I’ve just been stabbed’.

“She lifted up her top and there was blood coming out.

“I hugged her to keep pressure on the wound. She was shaking so much, I was trying to calm her down.

“Then one of the barmaids came out the pub and I told her and my friend to phone an ambulance as I kept pressure on the wound to make sure she didn’t pass out.”

The witness told The Courier that the victim claimed she did not know her attacker.

She said: “She gave a description but didn’t know him, so it was just a random attack.

“The thing that gets me is that it could have easily been me.

“I was going out for cigarettes all night by myself.

“I don’t want to create panic but I don’t want to be out if there’s a guy going about stabbing people. It blows my mind that this could happen in Perth.”

The victim was taken to Ninewells Hospital where her injuries were described as minor.

The suspect is described as being white, in his early thirties, around 5ft 5in and of a medium build.

He was unshaven and wearing a light blue hooded top, dark trousers and black-and-white trainers.

Detective Inspector Allan Thomson, who is leading the investigation, said: “This is an extremely rare incident to happen in this area therefore extensive inquiries are ongoing to establish the exact circumstances leading up to it.

“Once again I want to stress just how unusual incidents of this nature are however please be reassured that an extensive investigation is ongoing including reviewing CCTV and houseto-house inquiries.”

Anyone with information should contact 101 quoting reference number 0257 of September 21 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 to remain anonymous.

We looked across the street and this lassie said: ‘I’ve just been stabbed’. WITNESS