Shopkeeper in stable condition in hospital after being 'slashed' while taking bins out of store in Lanark

A shopkeeper is in hospital after being “slashed” by a man while taking bins out on Sunday morning in Lanark.

Emergency services were called to the convenience store on Coalburn Road after the 53-year-old was approached by a man with a bladed weapon at around 8.50am.

The injured man was taken to Wishaw General Hospital where he remains in a stable condition.

The suspect is described as male, 6ft, of a slim build, and was wearing black jogging bottoms, a black North Face hooded top with white writing, a black snood, white trainers, and orange gloves at the time of the incident.

He was last seen running off towards Dunns Crescent.

Police believe the incident was unprovoked, but the shopkeeper was targeted, with the suspect hiding in nearby bushes two hours prior to the attack.

Detective constable Alison Geal, Lanarkshire CID, said: “From our enquiries so far, we believe this attack to be totally unprovoked but that the person who was attacked was the target of the suspect.

“Officers have been checking CCTV from the area and we know that the man had been hiding in nearby bushes and to the side of the shop for at least two hours before the shopkeeper emerged from the store.

“We have a limited description of the suspect’ as the hood of his jacket and snood he was wearing covered almost the whole of his face.

“This was a nasty attack. There appears to have been no attempt by the suspect to enter the store.

“The shop is in the middle of a residential area overlooked by numerous homes. Officers are in the area, but we’d appeal to anyone who may have doorbell footage, or dash cam, to contact police.

“We believe the suspect knows the area. He may be local.

“If you have any information you believe may assist our enquiry, then please call police via 101. Quote incident number 1074 of Sunday, September 7, 2025, when calling.”