A total of 20 arrests have now been made by police in connection with the ongoing gangland turf war.
14:10, 25 Apr 2025Updated 14:14, 25 Apr 2025
Police have been called to a spate of incidents across Edinburgh and Glasgow(Image: Daily Record)
Three people have appeared in court charged with various offences as police wage war on Scotland’s feuding gangs. Officers confirmed earlier today that eight people had been charged by cops as they try to tackle the growing gangland turf war which started in Edinburgh and spread to Glasgow.
Ryan Carlin, 23, and Sean Doyle, 24, appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Tuesday charged after a vehicle had failed to stop for officers in Robroyston following disruption activity shortly after 2.35am on Saturday, April 19. The car allegedly then left the scene before being abandoned on an off-road track near to Chryston a short time later.
Carlin, from Airdrie, was charged with conspiracy and various road traffic offences – including driving dangerously, failing to stop for an officer, knowing that a vehicle they were in had been taken without authority, reset and failing to provide a breath, blood, or urine specimen.
Carlin made no plea and was committed for further examination. He was remanded in custody to appear again at court within eight days.
Two properties have been targeted in Bishopbriggs(Image: Supplied)
Doyle, from Wishaw, was charged with conspiracy, reset and knowing that a vehicle they were in had been taken without authority. He made no plea, was committed for further examination and was remanded in custody to appear again at within eight days.
Meanwhile, Paul MacAuley, 38, was arrested in Edinburgh on Wednesday. He appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Thursday charged with theft, reset, culpable and reckless conduct and driving without insurance. MacAuley made no plea and was committed for further examination. He was granted bail to appear again at court at a later date.
A 16-year-old male was also arrested and charged with reset of a stolen vehicle and culpable and reckless behaviour. He was due to appear in Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Thursday. Due to legal reasons, however, the appearance details for the teenager could not be released by the court.
A total of 20 arrests have now been made by police in connection with the ongoing gangland turf war. A 16-year-old male youth and a 20-year-old man were arrested and charged in connection with five incidents of attempted murder and one of culpable and reckless fire-raising on Wednesday evening. This follows a series of fire-raisings that have taken place across Glasgow in recent weeks. Both are due to appear in Glasgow Sheriff Court on Friday.
Officers also executed warrants at two properties in South Queensferry on Thursday. Firearms were seized from both addresses. Two men, aged 36 and 38, have been arrested and charged in connection with firearms offences. Both men are due to appear in Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Friday.
The arrests are said to be linked to the turf war spreading from Edinburgh to Glasgow with cocaine kingpin Mark Richardson among the key players.
Mark Richardson
Sources say trouble flared between the rival factions after hoods linked to the caged mobster were accused of stealing a stash of cocaine worth £500,000 linked to a Mr Big. It’s understood the Glasgow mob boss, now based in Dubai, launched a new crime syndicate and began to flood Scotland with imported gear.
Earlier this week an underworld source said the hood, who has masterminded a series of attacks on his rivals in recent weeks, was now offering a £100k bounty for the heads of his top targets. His hit-list includes some of the most feared crime clan members in the country, including the families and closest associates of arch enemies Richardson and Steven ‘Bonzo’ Daniel.
Officers say a dedicated team from our Specialist Crime Division is working alongside divisional officers to gather hundreds of pieces of evidence and build solid cases against those responsible for these targeted attacks. Meanwhile, local officers have been carrying out intelligence-led patrols to disrupt the activities of criminals and build reassurance in our communities.
Detective Chief Superintendent David Ferry said: “The arrests over the past week highlight the ongoing work that officers have been doing to target those responsible for these attacks. While we believe these incidents are linked to rival groups who are targeting each other, I want to make it clear this violence will not be tolerated.
Properties have been torched across the country
“As well as carrying out these days of action and disruption activities, there is a lot of work going on behind the scenes, including exploring forensic opportunities and analysis of digital devices. While this may not be as visible, please be assured we are working tirelessly to build cases and are following a number of significant lines of enquiry.
“We have had a good response to our appeals and I want to thank the public for their help and information so far. The support of our communities is absolutely vital when it comes to tackling serious organised crime, preventing violence and getting justice for victims. Your information really can make a difference.
“If you know anything about who is responsible for these dangerous and abhorrent acts, please do the right thing and speak to us.”
The arrests in Glasgow are related to wilful fire-raising incidents on Wellington Road, Colston Drive and John Marshall Drive in Bishopbriggs, as well as incidents on Meadow Court in Stepps and Gala Street and Ashgill Road in the city this month.
Police say they have poured over 3000 hours of CCTV footage, 12 stolen vehicles have been recovered, around 2000 moving vehicle checks have been made, over 260 vehicles have stopped, 350 addresses have been checked daily and 23 people have been stopped and searched.