Car criminals stab witness

The man was detained in hospital

A man has been stabbed by would-be car thieves after he tried to report their crime to the police using his mobile phone.

Police in Edinburgh said the man was the victim of a serious attack while "carrying out his moral duty by reporting a crime".

The two men spotted the 23-year-old victim using his phone and kicked and punched him before stabbing him in the back.

The man tried to flee from his attackers and ran between moving traffic.

We are keen to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the attack or have any information relating to it.

Police spokeswoman

He managed to flag down a driver who drove him away from the scene.

He was taken to hospital following the incident in Great Junction Street, Edinburgh, on Wednesday evening.

A Lothian and Borders Police spokeswoman said: "This was a serious attack on a member of the public carrying out his moral duty by reporting a crime.

"We are keen to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the attack or have any information relating to it.

"In particular we are keen to trace the driver and two passengers of the car flagged down by the victim.

"This car is described as being dark coloured, possibly a Vauxhall Vectra."

The man was kept under observation in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. His condition was not life-threatening.