A Scots priest chased a thug out of a cathedral with a chair after he was attacked with a glass bottle.
The holy man was praying in St Mary's Catholic Cathedral in York Place, Edinburgh, when the man approached him at around 9.35am on Monday, July 26.
The Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh said in a statement that he was sitting alone praying in a pew when the lout asked if he was a priest.
"When the priest replied that he was, the man attempted to hit him on the head with the bottle, before chasing him to the back of the cathedral," the statement said.
"The bottle broke on the ground and the man continued using it in his assault.
"The priest managed to fend him off with a chair before the attacker ran out of the cathedral.
"The priest escaped without injury."
Police have launched a probe following the terrifying incident.
A spokesperson for Police Scotland said they were called at around 9:35am on Monday to a report of a 35-year-old man being assaulted.
She added: "Officers attended and the victim did not require hospital treatment.
"Inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident and anyone with information is urged to contact Police Scotland through 101, quoting incident number 0823 of Monday July 26, 2021."
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