Police are hunting for a maniac wearing surgical gloves who attacked an 11-year-old girl in the capital.
The girl was kicked in the face and head by the thug, who was also wearing a balaclava, as she walked near an underpass in Edinburgh last night.
The child received minor injuries but worried locals have reported seeing the man acting suspiciously in the Sighthill and Broomhouse areas over the last few days.
A friend of the child's family said she was shocked but not seriously injured.
They said: "He's been seen by a few people hanging around Sighthill near the underpasses and following women and staring at them. He's got the balaclava on all the time.
"He just ran up to her and pushed her to the ground before he kicked her in the face and head. She was bleeding but is fine. It's more the shock.
"The police need to catch this guy before he does some serious damage to someone."
Another woman said she phoned police after a man, wearing gloves and a balaclava, followed her near to the subway but walked off when she turned to confront him.
He is described as being tall and thin and wearing an Adidas tracksuit.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 6.30pm on Tuesday, 1 September, officers were called to the Broomhouse Street area of Edinburgh, following a report of an 11-year-old girl being assaulted by a man.
"The girl sustained minor injuries.
“We have received a number of other reports about this same man acting suspiciously in the nearby area and around Calder Road between 5pm and 7pm.
"He is described as wearing a grey tracksuit, a face covering and blue surgical gloves.
"Enquiries into the matter are ongoing and there will be increased police patrols in the area as a result.
"Anyone with information or who has seen this man is encouraged to contact police on 101, quoting incident 2917 of 1 September.”
