THE TEENAGER who attacked Syrian refugee Shabaz Ali in Edinburgh in May has pleaded guilty to racially-aggravated attempted murder.
Eighteen-year-old Sean Gorman made threats and racially abused Ali, before stabbing him a number of times in the hostel where the barber who fled to Edinburgh from the war-torn country had been living.
Police traced him a short time later, and he was arrested. A lock knife was recovered.
At the High Court in Edinburgh, Gorman admitted racially aggravated attempted murder as well as causing racially aggravated alarm to another woman within the hostel.
He will be sentenced on 17th August.
Detective Chief Inspector Paul Grainger said: "Gorman's violence was extreme and left the victim with significant, life-threatening injuries. He showed utter disregard for the victim and another woman who was with him - made all the worse given the appalling racist language used.
"Whilst this attack happened within a private property, it gained a great deal of public and media interest and I'm pleased that Gorman has been brought to justice so quickly. Edinburgh is a vibrant place where people of different nationalities, faiths and backgrounds live together and the support shown by the local community for the victim and his family is far more indicative of the city's inclusivity than this one isolated incident.
"We work closely with all the different groups and communities across Edinburgh and hate crime and violence of this nature are roundly condemned. I hope that today's conviction helps the victim and his family to move past this terrible attack and I wish them well."
There was a huge outpouring of support for Ali after the attack.
Pro-refugee demonstrations were organised in Edinburgh, and questions were asked in the Scottish Parliament.
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