A police investigation has been launched following the unprovoked attack on the young woman at an Edinburgh hotspot.
The young woman was assaulted in an unprovoked attack.
A 19-year-old woman has been left traumatised after reportedly being assaulted by a gang of teenagers while walking along Portobello Beach in Edinburgh.
The young woman, who has chosen to remain anonymous, was with her girlfriend around 7.30pm on April 7 when they encountered a group of approximately 15 youths. The situation quickly escalated into a violent attack.
The victim was allegedly thrown to the ground, punched, kicked, and restrained by members of the group. During the assault, one of her facial piercings was ripped out, her arms were pinned behind her back, and her top was lifted.
Police Scotland have confirmed they are investigating the incident. A spokesperson said: “Around 8.10pm on Monday, 7 April, 2025, officers received a report of an assault on Portobello Beach. Enquiries are ongoing.”
Speaking to Edinburgh Live, the teen’s older sister expressed outrage at the violence and disappointment that no bystanders intervened, despite there being as many as 30 people present at the scene.
“My sister was walking with her girlfriend and another group of friends. From a distance, she noticed a group of teens but didn’t think anything of it,” she said.
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“As they got closer, the group suddenly attacked her. She was thrown to the ground, kicked, punched, and held down so she couldn’t defend herself. Someone ripped out one of her eyebrow piercings, and they lifted her top.”
Her girlfriend attempted to step in but was also assaulted. Shockingly, others nearby reportedly failed to intervene.
Despite the traumatic experience, the victim did not sustain serious physical injuries, and her family is grateful she is recovering. However, her sister voiced concerns over how dangerous the situation could have become.
“We’re thankful she’s okay physically, but it’s terrifying — they could’ve had a knife. These were schoolkids, maybe 14 or 15 years old, and my sister is 19. She’s strong, but she was outnumbered. She’s still really shaken by it,” her sister added.
In the aftermath, the family hopes to raise awareness about the incident and call for action to prevent similar attacks in the area. They believe more must be done to ensure public safety, especially for young people across Edinburgh.