Teenager is 50th person arrested over ongoing gang war across Scotland

The 50th arrest has been made in connection with an ongoing gang war across central Scotland.

Police confirmed on Friday that an 18-year-old man had been charged in connection with wilful fire-raisings which occurred at three properties on Pitcairn Grove, Prestonfield Crescent and Niddrie Marischal Crescent in Edinburgh.

The fires took place on Thursday, April 17.

Earlier this week, Police Scotland’s Chief Constable urged members of the public to come forward to aid detectives in tracking down those involved.

Police arrested and charged two men on Monday, June 16, in connection with the attempted murder of a 54-year-old man on Pitcairn Grove on Thursday, May 22.

Joshua Stewart, 20, and Arran Reid, 26, appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Tuesday, June 17, and made no plea.

Reid was charged with a number of offences, including attempted murder, possession of a firearm and drugs. Stewart was charged with attempted murder.

Both were remanded in custody to appear in court again at a later date.

A 26-year-old man was also arrested in connection with outstanding warrants after officers attended a property in the Muirhouse Drive area of the city at around 6pm on Sunday, June 15.

He was also charged with wilful fire at a premises in Albert Street in Edinburgh on Thursday, March 6, and was due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday, June 16.

Arrests in connection with Operation Portaledge, the ongoing investigation into violent incidents across the country, have reached 49.

A 17-year-old man was arrested and charged in relation to two wilful fire-raisings in Edinburgh during the early hours of Monday, June 9 in Niddrie Marischal Crescent and Campion Road.

The 17-year-old was arrested on Tuesday, June 24. He was released on an undertaking to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court at a later date.

Chief Constable Jo Farrell said: “My priority has been to ensure that the people of Scotland are safe, so we have put a lot of resource and effort and skill behind Operation Portlage.

“Our drive is to reduce activity of people involved in serious and organised crime in Scotland.

“What we’ve seen as part of this work is people coming forward, giving the police information, which has helped us tremendously in identifying, targeting those people that are dealing in drugs.

“They’re dealing in violence, they’re exploiting people who are vulnerable, and they are causing a lot of harm in local communities.

“People are seeing this on a daily basis and it’s our drive to eradicate it.”

Local and specialist officers continue to carry out extensive enquiries to gather evidence.