Footage shows youths on e-scooters 'hurl racist abuse' at women near Scots university
A group of youths have been filmed "hurling" racist abuse at a group of women near the University of Edinburgh prompting cops to launch a probe.
Emily Yao was unlocking her bike with her two friends at Potterow at around 10pm on July 1, when two young boys on e-scooters raced towards them.
Emily, who has lived in the capital since the pandemic and was born in China, claimed they hurled abuse at the trio, including calling them 'Chinese f*****s'.
During the incident she attempted to film the two youths, who she believed are around 11-years-old, on her phone with local cops now probing the incident.
Speaking to Edinburgh Live, Emily said: "Suddenly we heard a kind of howling sound, like an animal, from behind.
"We saw someone racing towards us on a scooter, and just as he was about to hit us he swirled around. We were a little bit shocked, and then, he and a mate of him and just started to say things like Chinese f*****s, f*** off.
"I just took out my phone and started filming them and trying to get a clear shot of their face, but I couldn't quite get them. I was trying to get them to come back and to, I asked them, can you repeat what you just said to me on tape?
'When I gave up and turned around, they would then follow me and then race towards me again. Then they would start hurling racial comments at me again."
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She continued: "He asked me 'do you feel threatened?' so I asked him 'do you think I should be? Do you want me to feel threatened?
"The whole encounter was just so sinister. I was kind of embarrassed that I was frightened by what looks like an 11 or 12-year-old.
"I think the thing that makes it a bit different is that they seem to only target Asian women. The whole thing reminded me of Adolescence, that Netflix show, especially when he asked me the question, do you feel threatened?
"It just took me right back to the show where the boy asked the psychologist if he scared her.
"It's really weird, and the fact that they are targeting women. It makes you wonder if it's because they actually do have a hatred of women, I mean they were calling us b*****s the whole times."
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "An investigation is under way following a report of racial abuse.
"The incident occurred around 10pm on Tuesday, 1 July 2025 on Charles Street in Edinburgh, when two youths on bikes approached three women and shouted abusive comments at them. Enquiries are ongoing."
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