Albanian man jailed 10 years for chainsaw attack on officer

Liridon Kastrati, a 32-year-old man from Albania, was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Tuesday at the High Court in Glasgow for attempting to murder a police officer with a chainsaw in Paisley, Renfrewshire, on May 6, 2024. The incident unfolded after Kastrati crashed his Volkswagen into a police vehicle, leading to a chaotic pursuit captured on CCTV and mobile phone footage.

The attack began when Kastrati's car collided with the police vehicle, deploying its airbag. He briefly attempted to flee on foot before returning to his vehicle and retrieving a chainsaw from the boot. As officers approached to arrest him following the crash, Kastrati started the tool, revved its engine, and shouted obscenities including "f the police." He then chased PC Gary Cowan, 35, down a busy street for a significant distance, holding the chainsaw aloft in what the officer later described as a life-threatening pursuit.

PC Cowan testified during the trial at the High Court in Paisley that he feared for his life. "He was chasing after me with the chainsaw, holding the chainsaw up, running after me," Cowan said. "I thought if I don't create distance, he is going to kill me." The officer, who suffered...