Police have begun a murder investigation after Trainspotting 2 star Bradley Welsh was shot dead on the doorstep of his home in Edinburgh while his family were inside.

The 48-year-old actor was killed by a shot to the head as he was walking down the stairs of his flat.

He found lying on a staircase at around 8pm on Wednesday night and died at the scene in the west end of the city.

Police had received multiple reports of a gunshot in Chester Street and said they believed the incident was an isolated attack.

Detectives think Mr Welsh was deliberately targeted by a man who fled the scene on foot.


Dozens of forensics officers were searching the area and neighbouring roads looking for any evidence.

Image: Armed police and forensic detectives at the scene in Chester Street

Detective Superintendent Allan Burton said: "We have a lady who's lost a partner, a child who's lost a dad, a family who have lost a son and brother.

"And so, for their sake, and the sake of everybody else in this community, please come forward and help us find the person responsible for this horrific death.

"Mr Welsh's partner and young daughter were in the house at the time when this took place.

"Thankfully they were unaware - they never heard the bang, if you like."

Image: Flowers and tributes were left at the scene of the shooting

He added: "When the police arrived, that's when the knowledge and horrors of losing Bradley to them had become real.

"They are devastated... it's not sinking in just yet, it's going to take time.

"Their whole world has been turned upside down by the actions of an individual last night."

On Thursday, bunches of flowers, cards, teddy bears and football scarves in the colours of Mr Welsh's beloved Hibernian football club were laid at the edge of the police cordon by friends and family.

Welsh starred alongside Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller, and Robert Carlyle in T2 Trainspotting, playing gangland figure Mr Doyle.

Image: Ewan McGregor, Johnny Lee Miller, Robert Carlyle and Ewen Bremner were reunited in T2

He was friends with author Irvine Welsh, who said his "heart was broken".

"Goodbye my amazing and beautiful friend," the writer tweeted.

"Thanks for making me a better person and helping me to see the world in a kinder and wiser way."

Bradley John Welsh, my heart is broken. Goodbye my amazing and beautiful friend. Thanks for making me a better person and helping me to see the world in a kinder and wiser way. 💚 pic.twitter.com/3duKqBxvxO — Irvine Welsh (@IrvineWelsh) April 18, 2019

Welsh also appeared on an episode of Danny Dyer's Deadliest Men in 2008.

He was reportedly a former British ABA lightweight boxing champion and became involved in charity projects in the Scottish capital, including helping young people stay away from a life of crime through his Holyrood Boxing Gym.

Other tributes were paid on social media, with one man writing: "Sad to hear the news about Bradley Welsh.

"Didn't know him personally but just recently had a few interactions on here with him through boxing and training.

"By all accounts a cracking guy who done fantastic work for the kids and the community in Edinburgh. RIP Brad."

Scottish actor Tam Dean Burn, who has played a range of roles on stage and screen, including in detective series Taggart, described Welsh as a "working class hero who did so much for the real grassroots Edinburgh".

Sad to hear the news about Bradley Welsh. Didn’t know him personally but just recently had a few interactions on here with him through boxing and training.

By all accounts a cracking guy who done fantastic work for the kids and the community in Edinburgh.

RIP Brad. — Badgie (@badgiebhoy) April 18, 2019 So shocking to wake to the news of the shooting and murder of Brad Welsh, a Hibs through & through working class hero who did so much for the real grassroots Edinburgh 💚 — Tam Dean Burn (@tamdeanburn) April 18, 2019

Police said they will now focus on obtaining CCTV from nearby homes and businesses. They are asking motorists who were in the area and may have relevant dash-cam footage to contact investigators.

The shooting has had a "profound impact", according to Chief Inspector David Robertson, who said: "I'd like to reassure the public that murders in Edinburgh are extremely rare, the use of a firearm even more so.

"Edinburgh remains a safe place to live, work and visit."