Police hunt man after rape in Edinburgh street
A woman has been found in a "hysterical state" after being raped by a man in an Edinburgh street.
The 34-year-old was attacked as she walked home in her slippers after buying cigarettes from a nearby Scotmid supermarket in the city's Leith Walk.
The man approached her after she crossed a pedestrian crossing at Jameson Place at about 2300 BST.
She was taken to Balfour Street and sexually assaulted before her attacker ran off towards Leith.
He is described as being white, aged in his 20s, about 5ft 9in, with short spiky blond hair and a high forehead.
Lothian and Borders Police said he was tanned with a muscular build and was wearing dark blue or black trousers, possibly jeans, with black shoes and a black zipped top with a red top underneath.
He was last seen walking eastwards along Leith Walk towards Great Junction Street.
A passer-by found the woman in a hysterical state, police said.
Det Ch Insp John McKenzie, who is leading the inquiry, said: "The investigation is at a very early stage, and we are in the process of trying to establish exactly what happened.
"Work is ongoing at the scene, and we are checking for any CCTV opportunities in the area that may assist with our investigations.
"This has been a very traumatic experience for the woman, and we are doing all we can to trace the person responsible.
"Incidents of this kind are rare, and for this reason I would appeal for anyone who was in the area at the time, and who may have seen what happened, to come forward.
"Similarly, I would ask anyone who recognises the description to get in touch."