Police have confirmed a pedestrian has been struck by a vehicle in the Cowgate area of Edinburgh amid reports of a “severed head” being found in the street.
Officers in the capital responded to a serious road traffic collision at 7.30pm on Saturday night. Detectives say enquiries are ongoing after confirming a collision.
Pubs in the area were evacuated after dozens of officers were called to the Cowgate.
Eyewitness claimed that the “severed head” was found in a nearby street.
Photographs shared online and sent to the Record have not yet been verified.
Comments left on the force’s Facebook page claim the images of the alleged incident are “gruesome” and “horrific”.
Forensic officers have now set up two separate tents at the scene.
Katie McLaughlin, from Dumfries, had been in Bannerman’s Bar in the Cowgate when she and her friends were locked in after around 8pm.
The 31-year-old told the Record: “We were in Bannermans having a drink and went to leave but a member of the staff stopped us. He said police were outside and a severed head had been found in the Cowgate. I almost laughed because it’s Halloween weekend and I thought it was a prank. We went to the bar where the staff said, no, it’s real.
“They said that the police had ordered them to shut the pub. They then let us all leave by the back door but we were able to have a look down the street.
“I saw three police cars and five police officers and a small silver tent. The police were taping off the area. We are in another pub now. The whole area is sealed off. It just seems so surreal.”
Another eyewitness said: “Police just appeared and started putting tape up. Whatever it is, it looks pretty serious. There doesn’t look to be any cars inside the cordon anyway.”
Blair Street, Guthrie Street and Candlemaker Road remain closed off.
Several surrounding night time venues have been ordered to close to allow police investigations to take place. A number of bars and nightclubs were due to host Halloween-themed events.
A Police Scotland statement reads: “Officers in Edinburgh are currently dealing with a serious road traffic collision in the Cowgate area of the city.
Shortly after 7.30pm on Saturday, 2 November, we responded to reports of a pedestrian being struck by a vehicle. Enquiries are ongoing.
Blair Street, Guthrie Street and Candlemaker Row are currently closed, and members of the public are asked to avoid the area until further notice.”
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