Shocking images show the moment youths set upon two friends on an Edinburgh bus as stunned passengers tried to intervene.

The pictures were taken on the service 16 service heading south of Edinburgh at around 7.50pm on Monday. They show two youths approach the pals with an “intimidating stance” before trying to nick a bag and laying into them.

Images show one youth in a dark hoodie approach another young boy and start unclipping his bag, with the targeted boy then standing up to defend himself.

A witness said seconds later the young boy in the dark hoodie then set upon the other and started “throwing hands”. His terrified victim can be seen cowering in fear and covering his head for protection.

The witness told Edinburgh Live: “I went up to the top level of the bus, I sat down and I could tell that there were young kids sitting behind me who were drunk but it’s not that unusual and I didn’t think anything of it.

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