A man has been charged and another is being hunted after a serious attack in Aberdeen city centre.
Police sealed off a section of Union Street after a 28-year-old man was found critically injured in the early hours of Saturday.
A major investigation was launched, with detectives scouring CCTV from nearby businesses in an attempt to piece together what had happened.
The incident happened at about 5.30am, close to the junction with Market Street.
Police yesterday confirmed a 28-year-old man has been charged, and is due to appear at Aberdeen Sheriff Court tomorrow.
They appealed for help to find a second man also believed to have been involved.
Detective Inspector Norman Stevenson, who is leading the inquiry, said: “Whilst this happened in the early hours of the morning, I would appeal to anyone who saw it happen or any part of it, to come forward and tell us what they saw.”
Civic leaders last night branded the incident – which happened just days after police launched their annual festive safety campaign – as “disappointing” and urged revellers to stay out of trouble.
The victim was taken to by ambulance to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, where his condition was described as “critical”.
A stretch of pavement on Union Street was closed for about six hours on Saturday while detectives and forensic officers scoured the area for clues.
DI Stevenson added: “It was necessary as part of our investigation to close a small section of Union Street and I fully recognise the disruption this caused to some businesses and the general public frequenting the area.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank those affected for their patience whilst we carried out this necessary work.”
Paddy Power bookies, which normally opens at 8am, was the only business forced to close its doors due to the cordon.
Staff had to wait until 3pm to open.
Local councillor Jean Morrison said she noticed the closure when she came into town at around 11am on Saturday.
She added: “The traffic was still running as usual but a bit of the pavement was blocked off.
“I spoke to the policeman and he just said there had been an incident and they were investigating it – he couldn’t say anymore about it.
“It is disappointing that something like that could happen on Union Street. It is quite open and there would be people walking about at that time.
“I would urge anyone who saw anything to contact police.”
Martin Greig, chairman of Aberdeen Community Safety Partnership, said: “It is very disappointing that this has happened just a few days after the launch of the annual festive city centre safety drive Operation Oak.
“This kind of violent attack sends out entirely the wrong message for our city centre.
“In our city, everyone deserves to feel safe and secure, including in the city centre, at all times of the day and night, so it is worrying that this has happened.
“The reputation of the city very much depends on the atmosphere of the city centre and we are the first city in Scotland to get our purple flag accreditation for promoting a safe and secure environment at night.
“The statistics do indicate improvements overall in reducing incidents of crime and antisocial behaviour, not just in the city centre, but throughout the whole city so we can only hope that this was an isolated incident.”
Anyone with any information regarding the incident is asked to call 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
