A man was seriously ill in hospital last night after he was stabbed in the heart in a violent battle involving a drug gang.
Armed police broke up the brawl, which broke out in Restalrig, Edinburgh, on Wednesday night.
The 27-year-old victim was being treated in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, where his condition was described as serious but stable.
Two men, aged 48 and 41, and a 34-year-old woman, were arrested at the scene. Detectives were looking for a suspect who was said to have run away.
Yesterday, Hawkhill Avenue was closed off as forensic officers searched the area.
One householder, who asked not to be named, said an argument broke out at about 10.30pm on Wednesday.
He said: “The man who was stabbed was screaming and shouting he had been ‘done over’ by the dealers.
“Two or three guys raced out and they started fighting.
“The police arrived fairly quickly. Armed police and dogs. It was a huge response.
“They were screaming and shouting at the people inside to come out. The victim was lying on the ground outside.”
Tenants said they had been trying to get the city council to do something following a surge in drug activity there in the last 18 months. The householder went on: “They openly deal in the street and all the addicts come and go at all hours of the day.
“The place stinks of weed permanently. We’re all fed up with it.
“We’ve had promises from the council they were dealing with the situation but clearly they aren’t.”
Another resident said: “It was terrible. I looked out my window and saw the guy lying on the ground. I couldn’t see if he was conscious or not. I thought he was dead.
“Next minute, armed police arrived and it was chaos. The guy is probably lucky to be alive.
“We’re all fed up complaining to the council and police and nothing gets done.”
Detective Inspector Clark Martin, of Gayfield CID, asked anyone who saw the incident or the missing suspect to call police on 101, quoting incident 4131 of May 13, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
City of Edinburgh Council said: “Along with the police, we have engaged with neighbours previously, addressing concerns about antisocial behaviour.
“We take the safety of everyone in our accommodation very seriously.”
