04/08/2008
Soldiers Attacked After Night Out
Two soldiers who had recently served in Iraq were attacked on their way back to their Edinburgh barracks after a night out.
The victims were taken to the city's Royal Infirmary with serious injuries after the assault in Dreghorn Gardens early on Friday morning.
A 22-year-old soldier was given stitches for a puncture wound in his back and a 25-year-old was treated for a laceration to his head.
It is understood the soldiers were set upon by six men in their early 20s. According to news reports, the gang called them "squaddie murderers".
One of the soldiers said: "We have been away defending the country and some idiots with knives decide to stab you for no reason.
"You are safer dodging bullets and mortars in Iraq than you are walking around here with these knife gangs.
"They were shouting, 'Do you think you are hard because you are back from Iraq?" he said.
A third soldier was also believed to have been assaulted during the incident but did not require treatment.
It is understood the men had been enjoying a night out in the capital as the the 1st Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland had been given a long weekend after the Minden Day parade on Thursday.
The men, who did not wish to be identified, returned from Iraq six weeks ago.
One of the victims told a local newspaper that they did not provoke the incident.
It is understood that Military Police from the barracks called an ambulance to the scene.
Lothian and Borders Police said they were investigating the incident.
An Army police spokesman would not confirm if the men were now off work due to medical confidentiality.
(DS)
The victims were taken to the city's Royal Infirmary with serious injuries after the assault in Dreghorn Gardens early on Friday morning.
A 22-year-old soldier was given stitches for a puncture wound in his back and a 25-year-old was treated for a laceration to his head.
It is understood the soldiers were set upon by six men in their early 20s. According to news reports, the gang called them "squaddie murderers".
One of the soldiers said: "We have been away defending the country and some idiots with knives decide to stab you for no reason.
"You are safer dodging bullets and mortars in Iraq than you are walking around here with these knife gangs.
"They were shouting, 'Do you think you are hard because you are back from Iraq?" he said.
A third soldier was also believed to have been assaulted during the incident but did not require treatment.
It is understood the men had been enjoying a night out in the capital as the the 1st Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland had been given a long weekend after the Minden Day parade on Thursday.
The men, who did not wish to be identified, returned from Iraq six weeks ago.
One of the victims told a local newspaper that they did not provoke the incident.
It is understood that Military Police from the barracks called an ambulance to the scene.
Lothian and Borders Police said they were investigating the incident.
An Army police spokesman would not confirm if the men were now off work due to medical confidentiality.
(DS)
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