He has still to be formally identified.

Police have arrested a 30-year-old man.

Today the tenement block remained cordoned off as police, both plain clothes and uniform, continued their inquiries. A team of forensic specialists also arrived on the scene.

Around 7.30pm last night a man was treated by paramedics for serious abdominal injuries at the flat, then taken by ambulance to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee where he died.

A next-door neighbour reported hearing a dreadful screaming shortly before the ambulance arrived.

Several other neighbours reported seeing another two men being taken into police custody.

It is just over a year since the horrific murder of Lithuanian Jolante Bledaite in Brechin and the man’s death has brought back a flood of grim memories.

“This has sent shockwaves through the whole community,” said Sandra Wells who lives nearby and witnessed events in Montrose Street along with her daughter Demi Palmer.

“People are beginning to feel really scared. We’re still coming to terms with the gruesome murder a year ago.

“For this kind of thing to be happening on our own doorstep, it’s just terrible.

“It’s bringing great shame to Brechin. Visitors will be thinking we’re murder city.

“This all happened in broad daylight. The place was swarming with police and the street was lined with young children watching as the man was brought out to the ambulance and the other two were taken into the police van.”

The tenement blocks in Montrose Street houses a large number of immigrant workers and Sandra saw them regularly buying large amounts of alcohol from a nearby store. She said, “You see them all the time coming out with bottles of vodka. I think that is the reason there is so much trouble. They end up arguing and things become heated.”

Mrs Margaret Power, who lives a few doors away, said, “I am very shocked and frightened. You see a lot of young lads going in and out of the Co-op all the time.”