Edinburgh street attacks 'could be linked'
Police are investigating if three street attacks which took place in Edinburgh within an hour are linked.
The attempted robberies were carried out in the south of the city between 16:35 and 17:35 on Friday.
In the first attack, the suspects fled empty-handed, in the second they stole a mobile phone and in the third they failed to take a handbag.
Officers said the descriptions of the man and two women involved was similar in all three attacks.
The first attack happened in Blair Street near South Bridge.
A 25-year-old man was approached by two females who began assaulting him before attempting to rob him.
A short time later a 22-year-old woman was approached in Drummond Street by a male and two females, who assaulted her and stole her mobile phone.
A 30-year-old woman later reported an attempted theft of her handbag in Duncan Place, a short distance away in the Leith area.
The suspects are described as in their late teens or early 20s.
They were said to be of average height, with the male having a slight build and wearing a brown leather jacket.
The girls were wearing a pink hooded top and a blue top.
One had blonde hair and the other had red hair that was possibly dyed.
A police spokesman said: "All three victims were left shaken as a result of these incidents and we are conducting local enquiries to identify the suspects."
He added: "Members of the public are encouraged to add tracking software to the mobile telephones and portable electronic devices, which can help police trace their goods if stolen."