POLICE investigating a “terrifying” sex attack on a 23-year-old woman as she walked home after a night out in the Capital are appealing for anyone who heard her screams to come forward.
The woman was grabbed from behind by a man in St Vincent Street in the early hours of Sunday morning and forced to the ground.
But officers said her screams were loud enough to deter her attacker, who ran off along North East Circus Place towards Stockbridge.
They said they were urgently looking to speak to local residents who heard the woman’s screams and passers-by who may have seen her making her way home after spending the night with friends in Frederick Street.
Officers also said they were exploring whether the attack, which happened at around 2.40am on Sunday, is linked to another sexually motivated assault which took place two weeks ago in nearby Cumberland Street.
Chief Inspector Gavin Phillip said: “The woman was grabbed and forced to the ground, and the nature of the struggle on the ground has led us to believe that there was a sexual motive.
“This was a terrifying ordeal for the young woman to endure and fortunately she was not seriously injured as a result.
“As part of our inquiries, we are reviewing the circumstances of a similar incident in Cumberland Street at the end of September.
“The two streets are reasonably close to each other and we are also treating the Cumberland Street incident as sexually motivated.
“At the moment there’s nothing definitive to indicate the two are linked but, given the geographical proximity of the attacks and the sexual motive, it would be remiss of us not to investigate that possibility.
“Investigating whether the two attacks were carried out by the same person would be part of the overall inquiry.”
The attack on Sunday morning comes only days after a pervert groped two women at bus stops in the city centre.
Chief Inspector Phillip said there was no evidence connecting these attacks with the assaults in St Vincent and Cumberland Streets but added that nothing had been ruled out.
He said: “There’s no evidence at the moment to suggest that they are linked. However, during the investigation we will keep an open mind and would urge the public to assist us with our inquiry.”
He added: “High-visibility police patrols will be out in the area to engage with members of the public and offer local reassurance to the community.
“Anyone with information relating to either of these assaults should contact police immediately.”
Councillors today urged residents to be extra vigilant after news of Sunday’s assault but stressed that Edinburgh is a safe city.
Councillor Lesley Hinds, Labour member for Inverleith, said: “Obviously, I hope that if anyone heard or saw something that night they will come forward to report it to police, particularly if the two incidents are connected.
“If these two assaults are linked then it’s also worrying in terms of people feeling safe in the streets. People should not be afraid to walk around in the streets of their city.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 0131-311 3131.