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Edinburgh gangland feud spreads to Glasgow

BBC Police cars and a road closed sign outside a small industrial siteBBC
A carpet business on a small industrial site in Bishopbriggs was among the latest to be targeted

Police have confirmed a series of fire-raising attacks linked to a gangland feud in Edinburgh may have spread to the west of Scotland.

Detectives said they were investigating a number of firearms, fire-raising and vandalism incidents in both the east and west of the country which they believe are "potentially linked".

It follows a fire at a carpet business in Bishopbriggs on Monday and suspected fire-raising attacks on four other properties in and around Glasgow.

Videos claiming to show the incidents have been posted online alongside warnings naming families that have been linked to organised crime.

The violence started on 6 March when a beauty salon in Edinburgh was set alight in the early hours of the morning.

Other houses and businesses in the capital have also since been attacked, including a house on Hay Drive in Niddrie and a garage in Portobello.

There were reports of shots being fired in Niddrie and West Pilton Bank on 20 and 21 March. Police confirmed the incidents were thought to be "linked to groups who are actively targeting each other".

The feud is thought to have spread west on Monday when homes at Meadow Court, Ashgill Road and Gala Street in Glasgow where set alight.

Businesses in Kirkintilloch and Bishopbriggs have also been targeted.

A house damaged by fire. The house is made of white and yellow stone. The roof has caved in and is black with fire damage. In front of it is a green barrier and in front of that is a silver barrier with white and blue police tape attached.
A house in the Hay Drive area of Edinburgh was set on fire earlier this month

Footage claiming to show some of the incidents has been posted online, alongside a video which warns "every associate, every business" of a well-known crime family "will be targeted".

It adds "leave Scotland immediately", reports the Daily Record.

Det Ch Supt David Ferry, from Police Scotland's Specialist Crime Division, said: "We have officers investigating a number of reports of discharges of firearms, fire-raising and vandalisms across the east and west of the country, which are all being treated as potentially linked at this time.

"These incidents could have had much more serious consequences and I want to make it clear this behaviour will not be tolerated.

"Significant inquiries are ongoing in relation to all of these incidents, and we are utilising all available resources to identify those responsible and bring them to justice."

Det Ch Supt Ferry confirmed a number of arrests have already been made in response to the incidents.

He continued: "We will continue to carry out additional high-visibility patrols and disruption activity and I would encourage anyone with any concerns to approach these officers, so we can take action.

"If anyone has information that can help with our inquiries then please contact us immediately."

Among the arrests was a 24-year-old man who was charged with wilful fire-raising and reset of a stolen vehicle.

He appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Tuesday and was remanded in custody.