Search For 'Dangerous' Thief After Murder

29 June 2016, 18:38

Police are hunting a "dangerous'' thief who stabbed an elderly man to death in a Glasgow street after earlier threatening two women.

The fatal attack happened in Abercromby Street in the Bridgeton area at about 12.30am on Wednesday.

Three people tried to help the man and called emergency services. The victim, who has not yet been identified but is believed to be in his 70s, was taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary, where he died.

The attack is being linked to a robbery and an attempted robbery in Glasgow city centre late on Tuesday.

At about 10.30pm a 25-year-old woman was threatened with a knife outside Glasgow Central Station. The thief made off with her bag and was chased down Jamaica Street by two men but managed to get away.

In the second incident, at about midnight in the Trongate, the same man threatened a 53-year-old woman who was standing alone at a bus stop but she managed to push him away and he ran off towards the Barras.

Police described the man as "dangerous'' and said it is "imperative'' that he is caught as soon as possible.

He is white, in his mid 20s, about 5ft 10ins with a medium build and has a scar on his face. He was wearing dark trainers that had a white chunky sole, a light baseball cap, a grey hooded top and dark-coloured jeans.

Officers are checking CCTV around all three attacks and police patrols are to be increased in the area.

Detective Superintendent Duncan Sloan said: "We believe that the initial motive of this attack was robbery, however, for whatever reason, it escalated into the elderly man being stabbed.

"This man doesn't seem to care who he attacks. He is a dangerous individual who is in essence a coward preying on an elderly man and women, and it is imperative that we catch him as soon as possible.

"It is entirely possible that there may have been others that the man approached or threatened either in the city centre or east end prior to the murder.

"If you were a victim or have any information that will assist with our enquiries, then please call the incident room at Govan police office on 0141 532 6723 or via 101. Details can also be passed in confidence to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 11.''