The hunt for the person or persons who inflicted multiple injuries on an Easter Ross man continued last night, with extra police patrols in the streets in an effort to reassure the public.
The victim, aged in his 40s, remains in a “serious” condition in hospital after suffering what appears to have been a vicious attack in his flat in Invergordon’s High Street.
Part of the street remained cordoned off last night, as police continued their investigation into the incident.
A senior north police officer said the force were carrying out a “significant inquiry” into the incident which left the man in a “serious but stable” condition in Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.
North Highland area commander Chief Inspector Iain MacLelland said that “the circumstances of his injuries infer that he was the victim of a criminal act”.
It is understood that man suffered stab wounds, among other injuries.
Police were called to the flat just before midday on Tuesday after a report of a “disturbance” in the area.
The injured man, who has not been named, was found inside the property and was taken to Raigmore Hospital for treatment.
Yesterday police could be seen carrying out door to door inquiries in the street.
A scenes of crime tent erected on Tuesday on the pavement at the front door of the flat remained in place.
A plastic covering on the door handle of the flat could also be seen from the street.
Chief Inspector MacLelland said that a large police presence would remain in place in the town for the next few days to investigate the incident and to reassure members of the public.
He said: “We have a significant inquiry ongoing there at the moment.
“We have a lot of resources in the area, both those carrying out the investigation into the incident which has occurred as well as carrying out house to house inquiries.
“We also have a number of patrols in the area with the specific remit of reassuring the community.
“These officers will be there for some time yet over the days to come and we’re devoting a lot of resources to establish exactly what has happened here.”
He added: “At this stage we are investigating a report of a male who has been found with significant injuries and we are working to investigate the circumstances of how he came by these injuries.
“The circumstances of his injuries infer that he was the victim of a criminal act.”