Scottish gang war erupts as properties burn in spate of Central Belt arson attacks

Patrick Christys congratulates protesters who encouraged refugees to Scotland’s capital, as the situation in the city is described as ‘utterly untenable’
GB NEWS
Eliana Silver

By Eliana Silver


Published: 15/04/2025

- 22:31

Detectives are probing links between several house fires, including recent attacks on properties in Bishopbriggs over the weekend

Police Scotland has been investigating a violent turf war between rival criminal gangs across the Central Belt following a spate of arson attacks in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Detectives are probing links between several house fires, including recent attacks on properties in Bishopbriggs over the weekend.


The incidents are suspected to be connected to an ongoing gangland feud.

Police also condemned a "cowardly" attack by two masked men on a 72-year-old woman and a 12-year-old boy inside a house in Milton shortly after midnight on Saturday. They remain in hospital with significant injuries.

Bishopbriggs

Detectives are probing links between several house fires, including recent attacks on properties in Bishopbriggs over the weekend

WIKIMEDIA


Authorities are seeking information about a large, dark family-style or SUV-type car seen in the Milton area at the time of the attack.

The attacks follow a series of fires in Edinburgh and Glasgow linked to rival organised crime groups.

Police Scotland confirmed it has visited more than 100 properties and are reviewing over 700 hours of CCTV footage.

Several arrests have been made in the east, including seizures of weapons, drugs and cash.

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Detectives said further arrests are imminent in the coming days.

Detective Chief Superintendent David Ferry said: "While we believe these to be targeted attacks, I want to make it clear this violence will not be tolerated and we are following a number of lines of inquiry."

"To attack an elderly lady and a child is simply cowardly no one should be made to feel unsafe in their own home."

Police are treating incidents in both east and west Scotland as "potentially linked".

Six properties in West Scotland were targeted in the space of a week, with three houses in Glasgow set alight on April 7.

A business premises in Bishopbriggs was targeted the following day.

Last week, an 18-year-old man and a 17-year-old were arrested in connection with three wilful fire-raising incidents in Edinburgh.

Videos claiming to show the fires have appeared online alongside warnings naming families linked to organised crime.

Police Scotland car

Detectives said further arrests are imminent in the coming days

GETTY


Russell Findlay, the Scottish Tory leader, said more needs to be done to tackle "gangsterism and organised crime".

"What this boils down to is a turf war across the Central Belt. Trying to fight for control of territory, trying to fight for control of supremacy," he told the BBC.

"The gangs involved are so depraved they have no sense of right or wrong whatsoever."

Findlay described the situation as "the continuation of a drugs war" raging since 2001.

Detective Chief Superintendent Ferry condemned those posting videos of the fires online, saying: "The publicising and glamorising [of] these despicable and dangerous acts is abhorrent."

He appealed for anyone with information to come forward, even anonymously, adding: "We understand these incidents will be concerning for the local community but please be assured we will bring those involved to justice."