‘We’ll be coming after you’ | UK News

Police Scotland is pursuing organised crime figures who are based abroad in connection with the central belt’s ongoing gangland feud.

The force’s chief constable, Jo Farrell, has told Scotland News officers are building intelligence to target the leaders of the groups involved.

She says her message to anyone directing violence in Scotland from a foreign country is: “We’ll be coming after you.”

A total of 49 people have been arrested over a wave of incidents which began in Edinburgh in March before spreading to the west of the country.

The violence has involved multiple fire bombings and assaults, resulting in charges including attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

A Scottish man currently based in Dubai is alleged to have started the feud by targeting a crime group led by Edinburgh gangster and convicted cocaine dealer Mark Richardson.

The man has been named in the media as Ross McGill.

Scotland News asked Ms Farrell what could be done about a figure from a Scottish organised crime group who is based in Dubai.

She replied: “We’re working closely with the Crown Office and the National Crime Agency (NCA) to see if we can get those people back from those countries.

“These aren’t fast processes, but we’re working with the authorities there and the NCA have individuals in those countries.

“That’s our link in and we’re working very closely with them.”

Asked when the violence would be brought to an end, she replied: “We’ve created a lot of momentum and gained a lot of evidence and intelligence.

“We can see the temperature dropping in this space.”

The latest arrest in the investigation took place on Thursday.

A 17-year-old male has been charged in connection with two wilful fire raisings in Edinburgh’s Niddrie’s Marischal Crescent and Campion Road on 9 June.

The teenager was released and will appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court at a later date.

The chief constable also repeated the force’s position on the murder of two senior figures from a Scottish crime group in Spain.

Ross Monaghan and Eddie Lyons Jnr were shot dead in a beachfront bar in Fuengirola on 31 May.

Both were members of the Lyons crime group, long-time rivals of the Daniels, another Scottish gang.

A senior officer from the Spanish National Agency has alleged that the gunman who killed Ross Monaghan and Eddie Lyons is linked to the Daniels group.

People connected to the Daniels have been targeted in the feud which began three months ago.

Ms Farrell said Police Scotland officers are currently in Spain, supporting the work of the Spanish police.

But she said the force “wasn’t aware” of any evidence the murders were linked to the feud, or had been planned from Scotland.

A 44-year-old from Liverpool has been arrested over the killings at the request of the Spanish authorities.

Michael Riley is to face an extradition hearing later this year.