By Paul Reoch

THE DETECTIVE in charge of the investigation into the vicious stabbing of a 22-year-old camper at T in the Park last night said that he was following “positive” lines of inquiry.

The “horrific” incident happened in the early hours of Sunday morning when two thugs stabbed Mark Morrison 11 times within the campsite at Balado, Kinross-shire.

Mr Morrison, who comes from Lanarkshire, was given immediate medical aid at the site and then transferred to Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, where he was treated in the intensive care unit. He is now recovering and is expected to be discharged later this week.

He had tried to come to the aid of a female friend when he was attacked by the two men.

Last night, Detective Chief Inspector Bruce Kerr, of Perth’s western division, praised the response to witness appeals, describing them as “very encouraging” and said that officers were following several positive lines of inquiry.

“The response to our appeals has been fantastic and reflects well on the vast majority of those people who attended T in the Park,” he told The Courier.

“It’s encouraging that so many campers have come forward with information and I’d like to thank each and every one of them for their assistance.”

He continued, “Detectives have spoken to and taken statements from a large number of witnesses and have also spoken to the victim of the assault. A forensic examination of the scene where the incident happened has also been completed and the inquiry team is awaiting test results.”

Mr Kerr had previously described the assault as “horrific” and said that Mr Morrison was an “innocent victim.”

Two men are believed to be responsible for the attack and they have still to be traced.

One is described as being white, aged between 20 and 24 years old, six feet two inches tall, slim, with short brown hair, which is spiked on top. At the time he wore a green or yellow coloured jacket.

The other man is white, about five feet eight inches tall, stocky, with short brown receding hair. He wore a red hooded top or jacket.