A hammer-wielding thug launched an attack on a foe following a confrontation outside a chemist on a busy East Lothian street to the astonishment of onlookers.
Shocked eyewitnesses saw the man exit a car opposite a branch of Boots on Musselburgh High Street armed with the weapon having previously been involved in a “disturbance” with a member of the public.
The suspect quickly fled the area in the noisy vehicle, leaving locals frantically contacting emergency crews.
Police have issued an appeal to trace the man responsible for the incident at around 12:45pm on Sunday afternoon.
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Officers say the suspect, thought to be around 26 years old and 5’10 in height, was “embroiled in a confrontation” with the passerby.
He sped off in a white Ford Fiesta shortly after the argument, but returned minutes later brandishing the weapon, described as a hammer by stunned shoppers.
The man was understood to be in the vehicle with several other males and had been loudly revving his engine prior to the altercation.
It remains unclear what happened when the driver returned, but officers are now desperate to locate him and have appealed for help from the public in doing so.
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The suspect was said to be of a slim build, wearing a blue puffer jacket, dark shorts and trainers at the time of the incident.
A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: "A number of lines of enquiry are currently being investigated, however, if anybody is able to provide any information in relation to this incident, please contact Police Scotland on non-emergency number 101 quoting incident number 1611 of 17/10/2021."
