Top detective: We'll bring gang war thugs to justice

ONE of Police Scotland’s top detectives has revealed “significant inquiries” are being made to track down those behind an on-going gangland war which has spread across the country.

- By Richard Elias

The force has already seized more than 700 hours of CCTV footage from properties for examination as part of their operation. Around 100 homes and businesses linked to individuals believed to be involved in the violence have also been visited.

The police admission comes as there seems to be no let-up in the firebombings, drive-by shootings and online threats which have blighted both Edinburgh and Glasgow. Fortunately, no one has so far been badly hurt during the tit-for-tat attacks but senior officers fear that will change unless their crackdown is successful.

The feud began in the capital and centred on a convicted drugs kingpin who, for years has run the narcotics market on the east coast. Mark Richardson is currently serving time for organised crime offences but the disappearance of a £500,000 stash of cocaine has been blamed on one of his underlings.

This, along with the 38-year-old’s long-standing affiliation with the north Glasgow-based crime clan, the Daniel family, has seen his tenure come under serious threat.

Known associates of Richardson have been repeatedly targeted in recent weeks and properties linked to them torched.

Both he and the Daniel family have received chilling online threats warning them to leave Scotland immediately or face the consequences.

Those behind the attack on Richardson and his cohorts are understood to be a major Glasgow criminal who is currently behind bars.