Detectives investigating a gangland feud that has led to assaults, shootings and fire bombings across the east and west have made a 50th arrest. Yusef Duale, 18, has been charged with wilful fire-raising, danger to life and attempted murder following blazes at three properties in Edinburgh. The addresses in Pitcairn Grove, Prestonfield Crescent and Niddrie Marischal Crescent were all targeted on 17 April. Duale, of Liverpool, made no plea and was released on bail following a private appearance at Edinburgh Sheriff Court. The investigation, called Operation Portaledge, was launched in response to a series of violent incidents since March. Two rival crime families - the Daniels and Lyons - have been linked to the attacks. Last month Eddie Lyons Jnr, 46, and Ross Monaghan, 43, were shot dead at a bar in Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol. Both men were senior figures in the Lyons crime group and there was speculation the Spain shootings were linked to the tit-for-tat attacks in Scotland. But three days after the murders Police Scotland said they were not aware of any evidence connecting them to the feud. The force later maintained its position after a Spanish detective said the suspect, who will face an extradition hearing in October, was a member of the Daniel group. Officers have visited thousands of homes and stopped hundreds of vehicles in Scotland as part of their investigations. Among the incidents shots were fired in Niddrie, where some of the violence has centred. Hours later more shots were reported on the other side of the city. Then in April, a house was deliberately set on fire in Hay Drive, Niddrie, which spread to a neighbouring property. The violence quickly moved west with more deliberate fires and serious assaults - one of which resulted in a 72-year-old woman and a 12-year-old boy being taken to hospital. They were attacked at a house in Egilsay Crescent in Glasgow's Milton. Last month, officers in the east were again called to a property on Marischal Crescent in the early hours after a Ford Transit van went up in flames. Five minutes later a Range Rover Evoque was found alight about half a mile away on Campion Road. Many of the arrests have been men under the age of 30, including teenagers. Read the full timelinehere.
Detectives make 50th arrest over east-west gang feud
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Police Arrest 50th Suspect in Ongoing East-West Gang Feud"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
Detectives have made a significant breakthrough in their investigation of a violent gang feud that has plagued the east and west regions, marking the 50th arrest in their efforts to curb the escalating violence. The latest suspect, 18-year-old Yusef Duale from Liverpool, has been charged with multiple offenses, including wilful fire-raising, danger to life, and attempted murder, following a series of arson attacks on properties in Edinburgh on April 17. The targeted locations—Pitcairn Grove, Prestonfield Crescent, and Niddrie Marischal Crescent—have been identified as key areas of conflict between two rival crime families, the Daniels and the Lyons. Duale appeared in a private session at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, where he did not enter a plea and was subsequently released on bail. The ongoing investigation, termed Operation Portaledge, was initiated in response to a string of violent incidents that have unfolded since March, highlighting the severity and danger posed by these gang-related activities.
The feud has escalated to alarming levels, with a series of shootings and fire bombings reported across various neighborhoods. Notably, the recent murders of Eddie Lyons Jnr and Ross Monaghan, both prominent figures in the Lyons crime group, in Fuengirola, Spain, have raised questions about potential connections to the violence in Scotland. However, Police Scotland has stated that they have no evidence linking these murders to the ongoing feud. The investigation efforts have been extensive, with officers visiting thousands of homes and stopping hundreds of vehicles to gather information. The violence has affected numerous individuals, including a 72-year-old woman and a 12-year-old boy who were hospitalized due to an assault in Glasgow. As the police continue their crackdown on the gangs, many of those arrested have been young men under the age of 30, indicating the involvement of a younger demographic in these criminal activities. The situation remains fluid as authorities work diligently to restore safety to the affected communities.
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