One person has died following a major incident in Fraserburgh last night.
Police confirmed that one man, 24, was pronounced dead at the scene and a 19-year-old man was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
The 19-year-old was later arrested in connection with the death of the man.
Emergency services swarmed a property at 57-63 Watermill Road following reports of a disturbance at 6pm.
The house is a four-in-a-block, with forensic officers concentrating on the gardens to the entrance hall, and the gardens in front of 57 and 59 Watermill Road.
Officers appeared to be working to the front and back of the property throughout the day on Monday.
A police spokesman said: “Around 6pm on Sunday, June 4 we were called to a report of an injured man on Watermill Road in Fraserburgh.
“Emergency services attended and a man was pronounced dead at the scene.
“A 19-year-old man also suffered injuries during the incident and was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for treatment.
“Inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.”
Police carry out door-to-door inquiries
It is understood it was a stabbing incident: with eyewitnesses saying a man was being resuscitated in the front garden of 57 Watermill Road, while another man collapsed in the street.
Damien McCrae said: “I was driving by with a friend and saw a resident from the block of flats on the phone but didn’t think anything of it.
“When we drove back round we saw someone was giving CPR to someone in the garden. First responders were there and within minutes all the emergency services were there.
Colin Christie also said: “We did notice them trying to revive somebody in the front garden.”
One resident didn’t know what had happened, they said: “I had just come back from walking my dogs and saw an ambulance and a person lying there.”
Another neighbour said she has been asked to hand CCTV to the police.
She said it shows footage of a man coming out of the property on Watermill Road, who then fell to the ground.
She said police were conducting door-to-door inquiries around the area.
‘Nothing usually happens around here’
Many neighbours first became concerned when they saw the air ambulance arrive.
A resident on Watermill Road said: “We didn’t see anything and then we heard the helicopter. It landed just over the road and we wondered what was going on.”
One man, who lives up the street from the incident, said he saw the lights from the police last night, including a helicopter.
He said: “30 seconds after the first lot of sirens went off, you just couldn’t move down here. This is not a normal occurrence.”
He said the “rumour mill was going ten to the dozen” about the nature of the incident.
Richard Duthie, who lives in nearby Walker Crescent said: “I couldn’t believe it, I’ve never seen so many police. There’s usually just loads of kids playing.”
Another person who lives in Walker Crescent agreed: “It’s scary. It happened just around the corner.
“Nothing usually happens around here and it’s the area that’s good for the kids.”
Neighbours told The Press & Journal the house was used as a home by a number of different people.
They say the house is a private rental property.
The area under the cordon is on Watermill Road between Hamilton Road and Gallowhill Terrace.
Timeline of events
Sunday
- 5.30pm: Neighbours report a disturbance in Watermill Road, Fraserburgh.
- One man seen collapsed in a front garden.
- Another man seen stumbling in the street on footage.
- 6pm: Police arrive at Watermill Road in Fraserburgh, followed by the ambulance service.
- A man is pronounced dead at the scene, another man, 19, is airlifted to hospital.
- 6.12pm: Fire service called to the scene
- 6.15pm: Police cordon off the area from Watermill Road between Hamilton Road and Gallowhill Terrace.
- 7.42pm: Fire crews send stop message
- Later in the evening, forensic tents are erected outside one house on Watermill Road.
- Police conduct door-to-door inquiries.
Monday
- 7am: Police remain on guard at the front and back of a home on Watermill Road.
- 7.30am: Officers continue to arrive at the scene.
- 10am: Police issued a statement to confirm one man dead, and a 19-year-old man taken to hospital.
- Police continue door-to-door inquiries.
- Forensic officers are on the scene.
Members of public urged ‘not to speculate’
Councillor James Adam, Fraserburgh and District, said: “I am aware of the incident and I am concerned for those involved.
“I ask anyone with concerns not to speculate, but to contact the police or myself.”
Aberdeenshire Council said they were unable to provide comment on any support being offered to neighbouring residents as police investigate.
The fire service was called to assist police and two appliances from Fraserburgh were sent to the scene.
A spokeswoman for the service said: “We were called at 6.12pm and two crews from Fraserburgh are on the scene assisting with a police-led operation.
“Crews were stood down at 7.42pm and left the scene at 7.56pm.”
The Scottish Ambulance Service has been contacted for comment.
More to follow.
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