An Edi student has been punched in the face in a racist attack on Princes Street

The fourth year student was attacked by a group of teenagers last Friday night


Police have launched an investigation after a fourth year Edinburgh University dentistry student was attacked by a group of teenagers on Princes Street at around 9pm last Friday.

The student, who identifies as South Asian, was heading towards the Omni Centre with a friend when she was punched in the face by a teenage girl, who was part of a bigger group.

The blow was so hard that it broke the student’s glasses, and caused her to fall on the ground.

Recounting the assault, the Edinburgh student told Edinburgh Evening News: “When they heard my scream of pain they started laughing and shouting at us”. The teenager also kicked the student’s friend and tried to hit her multiple times.

After carrying out the assault, the teenagers crossed the road and reportedly slapped another person.

The police have confirmed officers attended the scene and enquiries are still ongoing.

A spokesperson for the police said: “Officers were called around 9.05pm on Friday 8 October to a report of an assault on Princes Street, Edinburgh. Enquiries are continuing.”

Sadly, there have been multiple racially motivated attacks in Edinburgh over the past few months, with a woman being verbally abused at a bus stop in Morningside last month, and an Edinburgh student being physically assaulted outside the main library last December, to name a few.

Speaking about the incident on Princes Street, the Edi student said: “The worst part of this experience was that I felt helpless. On my way back home I feel extremely uncomfortable and in danger by the white people around me.

“I felt like an outsider, in a city that I have living in for the past three years and where I was considering staying postgraduate.

“In the past couple of years, I have read on Facebook and witnessed many Asians and Black students getting racially abused.

“It is utterly disgusting thinking that I need to grow up in a society where the future adults have been aggressive, racist and unwelcoming.

“I am talking on behalf of all the students that do not feel safe in this city and could not get justice.

“What happened to me could have happened to anyone, but if you are from a different ethnicity from white, you will have a higher chance of being at risk.”

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A woman has been racially abused at a bus stop in Morningside