Two blade attacks in Ayr last month are believed to be linked to a row over drugs.
Ayrshire Live understands that cocaine dealers are operating in the town and heated disputes have led to violence spilling onto the streets.
Two serious assaults that occurred in the same 24 hours are still being probed by the police.
The first took place in the early hours of Monday, February 8 on Racecourse Road where a 29-year-old man was left with ‘puncture wounds’.
The man was stabbed in a targeted attack near to The Ellisland Hotel and was taken to hospital for treatment after the attack at 7am.
Cops last month appealed for witnesses and for anyone who spotted a group of men at the time of the incident.
Detectives have also been pouring through CCTV footage.
Less than 12 hours later at 6.30pm another knife attack took place at an address on Campbell Court in the Craigie area.
The victim, a 47-year-old man was left with a serious facial wound after the vicious slashing.
Detectives were left puzzled by the ‘mystery attacker’ who was described as wearing a green jacket.
More than a month later and police believe the two incidents remain separate and they are keeping an 'open mind' about the possible motives for the two incidents.
But a source told Ayrshire Live: “Both of these knife attacks are linked to an ongoing drug feud in Ayr.
“Dealers are selling cocaine but there was a dispute around money being owed and the people involved are clearly dangerous.”
Chief Inspector Brian Anderson, area commander at South Ayrshire, said: "Extensive enquiries have been carried out into both assaults at Racecourse Road and Campbell Court in Ayr on Monday, February 8 and this work remains ongoing in order to identify those responsible for both incidents.
"I appreciate the concern incidents like this cause in the local community.
"Our investigations so far indicate that these incidents are separate and not connected or part of a linked series of events.
"We are keeping an open mind about possible motives for both incidents as our enquiries continue.
"We are continuing to explore every avenue of investigation available to us for both incidents, including speaking to a considerable number of potential witnesses and a detailed study of available CCTV.
"We are very grateful to everyone from the local community in Ayr who has helped with both of these investigations to date and would again stress we are committed to ensuring that those responsible are identified.
"If anyone has information on either of these incidents they have not yet passed to police, they should call us on 101 or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."
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