Reports of a "severed head" have emerged after police locked down an area of Edinburgh's old town on Saturday night (Image: Daily Record)

Police officers rush to crash scene after 'severed head found in street'

by · Birmingham Live

There have been reports that a severed human head was found in a road following a crash. A woman has claimed that she witnessed police officers 'turn white' before they left for the scene.

She was being arrested at the time in a separate incident. Witnesses claimed the gruesome discovery was made in Cowgate, Edinburgh, which later saw police lock down the area and evacuate nearby pubs.

Images from area captured forensic tents being erected on the street. A woman has since shared on TikTok that the cops' faces had "turned white" as they sped off "doing 100mph minimum to get to Edinburgh."

Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp

She said: "I can confirm the two officers who arrested me and dropped me off pronto had to attend the incident in Edinburgh and I heard it all. It's real guys.

"They dropped me on the village main street doing 100mph minimum to get to Edinburgh. [And] when I say their faces went white, they looked terrified of what they [were] about to see."

The only information provided by Police Scotland so far is that officers were responding to a "road traffic incident." Eye witnesses claim several nearby streets have been cordoned off, with people urged to avoid the area, The Mirror reports.

A spokesperson for the force said: "Emergency services are responding to a road traffic incident in Cowgate, Edinburgh. Blair Street, Guthrie Street, Candlemaker Road are closed. Motorists are advised to avoid the area and use alternative routes. Thank you for your patience."

Locals were evacuated from pubs and clubs around Cowgate following the incident, including an event at the nearby Mash House nightclub.

A statement from organisers, Bachata Blues Edinburgh, said: "Following police instructions, all Cowgate venues are going to be closed tonight due to a major incident. All ways to enter Cowgate are cut off.

"Unfortunately, we have to cancel tonight's event as Mash House will remain closed all night, following police instructions. We will be back soon & hope to reschedule our night as soon as possible!"

Birmingham: A Child Poverty Emergency

Child poverty is soaring in Birmingham and without urgent change, will only get worse. Having worked with charities and community groups, BirminghamLive is campaigning for the following changes to start to turn the tide:

  1. End the two-child benefit cap
  2. Provide free school meals to every child in poverty
  3. Create a city “aid bank” for baby and child essentials
  4. Protect children’s and youth services
  5. Create permanent, multi year Household Support Fund and give more Discretionary Housing grants
  6. Set up child health and wellbeing hubs in our most deprived neighbourhoods
  7. Appoint a Birmingham child poverty tsar
  8. Provide free public travel for young people

You can see why in more detail here.

Read our full report Birmingham: A Child Poverty Emergency here.

What you can do to help.