Armed police have raided a property in the Oxgangs area of Edinburgh as part of an ongoing crackdown on a violent gangland feud that has engulfed both the Scottish capital and Glasgow.
The targeted operation unfolded on Firhill Drive on Saturday, with Police Scotland confirming that a warrant was executed and that inquiries remain ongoing. The raid is the latest in a string of heavily armed police actions linked to a spiralling conflict between rival organised crime groups, which has sparked firebombings, assaults, and shootings since March.
Cross-City Turf War
The gang feud, believed to centre on drug and firearm trafficking, has intensified in recent weeks, with both Edinburgh and Glasgow experiencing a wave of violence and retaliatory attacks.
In April alone, six properties in and around Glasgow were firebombed in just one week, while masked individuals and arson have become recurring features of this violent escalation. Some of the attacks have even been filmed and circulated online, sparking public alarm and prompting increased calls for intervention from political leaders.
Drugs, Firearms, and Teen Arrests
The raid on Firhill Drive comes just a day after three individuals – including a 17-year-old girl – were arrested following a separate raid in the capital. All three were charged with drugs and firearms offences, and police say further raids are likely.
Across multiple operations, warrants have already been executed in Edinburgh, Leith, and Musselburgh, with four arrests made so far. The nature of the weapons and narcotics seized has not yet been publicly disclosed, but the breadth and coordination of the raids suggest police believe they are dismantling a broader network.
Political Pressure Mounts
The political reaction to the violence has been swift and, in some cases, pointed. Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay criticised the Scottish Government’s priorities, urging First Minister John Swinney to hold a summit specifically focused on gangland violence.
“The latest explosion of violence in Glasgow and Edinburgh is directly linked to a drugs war that has been raging across Scotland since 2001,” said Findlay. “We’re almost a quarter-of-a-century into this drugs war.”
He added that innocent civilians have already been caught in the crossfire, as properties in residential neighbourhoods continue to be targeted without warning.
Swinney Backs Police Response
Despite the criticism, First Minister Swinney has praised Police Scotland’s efforts, saying they are “doing an excellent job” in their pursuit of justice.
“I welcome the steps that have been taken by Police Scotland to address the criminality that has been taking place,” Swinney told the Press Association.
The First Minister is currently preparing to host a forum on tackling far-right extremism, but there is growing pressure for the government to address urban gang violence with equal urgency.
Gangland Crisis Timeline
| Date | Incident |
|---|---|
| March 2025 | First reports of coordinated fire-raisings in Glasgow and Edinburgh |
| Early April 2025 | Six homes targeted in one week in Greater Glasgow |
| April 18, 2025 | Three arrested, including teenage girl, on firearms and drug charges |
| April 19, 2025 | Armed police raid Firhill Drive home in Edinburgh |
The violence marks a worrying return to early-2000s levels of gang activity, with a new generation of crime groups apparently competing for control of Scotland’s most lucrative illegal trade routes.
With the feud spilling into public view and affecting residential communities, Police Scotland are expected to maintain a heightened presence in key areas while intelligence-led raids continue.
