CRIME lord’s son Zander Sutherland went into hiding in Norway after getting death threats from the hoods orchestrating a terrifying wave of gangland firebombings.
The convicted heroin dealer, 36, did a runner after allegedly being attacked at his Scots jail — and while fearing he was No1 target for the vengeful Dubai-based mobsters.
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Zander Sutherland went into hiding in Norway after getting death threatsCredit: Spindrift
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A huge blaze at a storage unit in Musselburgh, East LothianCredit: PA
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Sutherland was arrested by cops while hiding out in OsloCredit: Alamy
They have launched a string of attacks on homes and warehouses linked to allies of Sutherland’s late kingpin dad Jamie Daniel, including caged drug lord Mark Richardson, 37.
Fresh details of hoods involved in the turf war emerged as Sutherland appeared at Perth Sheriff Court to admit taking off from Castle Huntly open prison, near Dundee.
A gangland source said: “There is an army of gangsters out there who are hell-bent on ending the legacy left by Jamie Daniel.
“There are new grudges and old ones that date back years but the one thing these guys all have in common is an intense hatred of the Daniel clan and their associates.
“This is what’s driving the current chaos and the top-table hoods behind it think they are untouchable in their desert boltholes.”
A UAE-based hood known as ‘Miami’ is said to have ordered the wave of blaze attacks in recent weeks in retaliation at a £500,000 fake cash cocaine con orchestrated by Richardson lackeys.
But Sutherland — who appeared in the dock sporting a grey beard — disappeared almost a year before the explosion of gangland violence across the central belt.
He spent eight months on the run before being arrested in Oslo and hauled back to the UK.
His vanishing act came after prison chiefs granted his request for a week at home in St George’s Cross, Glasgow — after he returned to the nick following 14 previous spells of leave.
But they raised the alarm when he failed to re-appear as scheduled on April 11 last year.
It then emerged he had initially gone on the run to Spain via Ireland, the court was told.
Sutherland’s disappearance also came 12 months after he was transferred to the nick.
Fiscal depute Emma Farmer said: “Staff reported him missing to police. They attended the named address, but it was in darkness.
“It is approximately 500 metres from St George’s Cross underground station. CCTV footage showed him going around Glasgow on the train to Buchanan Street bus station and then getting in a taxi.
“Glasgow Airport CCTV showed him going through passport control.
“He got a flight to Ireland and then on to Spain at 9pm.”
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A fire rips through a carpet firm linked to gangster Craig ‘Rob Roy’ Gallagher
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Police outside a house which was torched in Edinburgh
Explaining the fugitive hoods’ disappearance, lawyer Tony Lenehan KC said an “extraordinary event” had convinced him he was in danger.
He told the court: “He was in a trusted position and had made 14 home leave visits without incident.
“It was on the 15th when there was an event which potentially represented a very serious attack upon his person and made him think about his safety and have thoughts about hiding away. Events overtook him and there was this extraordinary event.”
We told how Sutherland was arrested by cops while hiding out in Oslo and spent time in a cushy Norwegian nick before being extradited in December.
Seizures in war probe
DETECTIVES probing the gangland war have seized weapons, drugs and cash as they hunt down the maniacs stoking the violence.
Officers have visited more than 100 properties and pored over hundreds of hours of CCTV in a bid to end the mayhem blighting Edinburgh and Glasgow.
And they are appealing to the public to help them snare the thugs wreaking terror in Scotland’s biggest cities.
Detective Chief Superintendent David Ferry, of the Specialist Crime Division, said: “Significant enquiries are ongoing and we are utilising all available resources to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.
“While we believe these to be targeted attacks, the consequences could have been far more serious.
“I urge anyone with information to please get in touch. We are also keen to speak to anyone with dashcam, doorbell, or personal footage, from the areas where these incidents have taken place.
The huge operation comes amid a torrent of firebombings and shootings by masked mobsters targeting capital cocaine kingpin Mark Richardson and the notorious Daniel crime clan, of Glasgow.
A dedicated team of officers are being supported by specialist resources.
DCS Ferry said: “A number of arrests have already been made in connection with incidents in the east and arrests will continue across the country over the coming weeks.
“I want to reassure the communities in the east and west of Scotland that our continued action in recent weeks demonstrates our commitment to tackling this type of crime.
“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.”
Detectives have carried out extensive door-to-door enquiries into an attack on a Daniel clan property in Ashgill Road, Bishopbriggs, Glasgow.
Intensive operations into Edinburgh shootings and torchings also continue.
Sheriff Jennifer Bain yesterday handed him a ten-month jail term. But it will not be added on to the 15-and-a-half-year stretch dished out in 2015 for dealing.
Slamming his escape bid, the law chief told him: “These were very foolish actions on your part after an otherwise successful period in open conditions. I will take into account your attempt to arrange your own return.”
We told how a man was nicked for allegedly attacking Sutherland in the prison on December 19, 2023.
The suspect was transferred to HMP Shotts, Lanarkshire.
He was subsequently charged with assault to injury and misuse of drugs during a private appearance at Dundee Sheriff Court and is due back in the dock later in the year.
Sutherland’s Norwegian lawyer Ola Lunde previously revealed the hood became scared after learning “someone was going to take him”.
Teen fire rap
By Graham Mann
A TEEN has appeared in court in connection with alleged firebombings.
Richard Ordish also faced an attempted murder charge during the brief appearance in private at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.
The 18-year-old had been arrested on Thursday in connection with blazes at a property in the capital’s Niddrie plus a beauty salon in Leith.
He was charged with wilful fireraising and an allegation under the Explosive Substances Act.
Prosecutors also allege the teenager caused danger to life.
Ordish, of the city, made no plea or declaration, was committed for further examination and remanded in custody.
He is due back in court within eight days.
As the gang war rages on, hoods reputedly acting for ex-Rangers ultra ‘Miami’ have posted chilling videos of infernos at properties linked to the Daniels and Richardson.
In the latest strike on Tuesday, thugs torched a jailed Daniel henchman’s carpet business in Bishopbriggs, near Glasgow.
That came four days after Craig “Rob Roy” Gallagher was caged for 32 months for chasing three men and a woman linked to the rival Lyons gang with an axe in 2021.
Cocaine kingpin Richardson is understood to be in isolation at Low Moss prison after being transferred from Glenochil, Alloa, where he was top dog.
One insider said: “There is a top-tier crime boss who is very p****d off at Richardson.”