Men stabbed by teenage gang

Police are hunting a gang of up to 15 teenagers who launched a "violent and unprovoked attack" on two men in Edinburgh.

The pair were taken to hospital after being stabbed in the early hours of Sunday.

One of the injured men suffered a collapsed lung in the incident.

A police spokeswoman said: "This was a violent and unprovoked attack on two men who suffered fairly serious injuries after being beaten up by a group of teenagers.

"Fortunately they were eventually scared off but not before they were hurt.

"Anyone with information about the culprits is asked to contact police."

The spokeswoman said the incident took place shortly before 0130 BST.

Asked to stop

The two victims, who are aged 20 and 21, were spat on by youngsters as they walked under a foot bridge in Hailesland Road.

The men shouted at the youngsters, asking them to stop.

However, the gang responded by chasing the two men along the road.

"As they caught up with them they began to attack them, knocking them to the ground," said the spokeswoman.

This was a violent and unprovoked attack on two men who suffered fairly serious injuries after being beaten up by a group of teenagers Police spokeswoman

"The two men were hit and punched by the group, possibly as many as fifteen, men and women aged between 16 and 20.

"It seems passing traffic scared the group off eventually and they ran away leaving the two men lying on the ground."

They were helped by passers-by before being taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary by ambulance.

The 20-year-old was discharged after treatment for a fractured wrist and a stab wound to his buttock.

The 21-year-old was treated for a stab wound to his chest, a collapsed lung, stab wounds to his thigh, cuts and bruising to his head and a fractured nose.

He has been detained in hospital for further treatment.