Police are appealing for witnesses after a man dressed as The Joker from Batman carried out an unprovoked assault this weekend, leaving a man with serious facial injuries.
The incident took place at around 11.30pm at Langstane Place, near Bon Accord Street in Aberdeen.
Officers have described the attacker as wearing white face paint, with a lipstick smile along his cheeks, a purple suit jacket and trousers, a white shirt and black shoes.
The man, who was also around 5ft 10in tall with a stocky build, had both dyed green curly hair and a long black curly wig.
The victim of the assault, a 20-year-old man, was sent to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
Constable Eamonn Ryan of the Divisional Alcohol Violence Reduction Unit, which is leading the investigation, said: “I appreciate the bizarre circumstances surrounding this incident, however the reality is this person carried out a brutal, unprovoked attack on a member of the public and they need to be held accountable for their actions.
“Do you know anyone who went out for Halloween weekend dressed as The Joker? Did you see this person on Saturday night and have information which could assist in tracing him?
“We believe he entered the city centre from the Rosemount direction at around 8pm before heading to a bar on Belmont Street where he socialised with two other men – one dressed in a black cape, and the other a grey boiler suit with a mask and a wig.
“From there he went to a bar at Langstane Place at around 10.20pm near where the assault took place.
“Following this the same suspect has attempted to fight with other people in the Langstane Place area and also outside a fast food restaurant across from St Nicholas Cemetery.
“He was last seen heading in the direction of Bon Accord Street before heading back to Rosemount.
“Just one punch can have fatal consequences and I don’t think I need to stress that violent behaviour of any kind will not be tolerated.
“It is extremely disappointing that what was meant to be a night of fun has resulted in a person being seriously injured and we need the public’s help to trace this person.”
Anyone with information is urged to phone the police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.