Crackdown on Scotland gang war: Police arrest 49 suspects including boy, 17, after spate of shootings, firebombings and assaults rocked Edinburgh and Glasgow
A teenager has been arrested on suspicion of firebombing amid a crackdown against Scotland's violent gang wars - as the total number of people arrested has now risen to 49.
A 17-year-old boy is the latest arrest in connection with Operation Portaledge, the ongoing investigation into a series of shootings, firebombings and assaults across the east and west of the country.
The spate of violent incidents began in Edinburgh and the east of Scotland in March, but spread to the Glasgow region in April and May.
Police Scotland Chief Constable Jo Farrell announced the latest arrest during a meeting of the Scottish Police Authority in Edinburgh on Thursday and urged anyone with information to contact police.
She said: 'The support of our communities is essential when it comes to tackling serious and organised crime, preventing violence and getting justice for victims, and I want to thank the public for their assistance so far and encourage anyone else with information to come forward.'
Police Scotland said the 17-year-old boy was arrested on Tuesday and charged in relation to two alleged wilful fireraisings in Edinburgh during the early hours of June 9 in Niddrie Marischal Crescent and Campion Road.
He was released on an undertaking to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court at a later date.
In her report for the SPA, the chief constable also reiterated that Scottish police believe there is nothing to suggest that the deaths of two men in Spain are linked to recent incidents in Scotland.
The two men, understood to be Eddie Lyons Junior and Ross Monaghan, died after a gunman opened fire outside Monaghans Bar in Fuengirola, Malaga, on May 31.
The chief constable's report states: 'Police Scotland is supporting Spanish police following the fatal shootings in Fuengirola.
'At this time, there is no evidence to suggest these deaths are linked to the recent criminal attacks in Scotland being investigated as part of Operation Portaledge or that the shooting was planned within Scotland.'
A man has been arrested in Liverpool in connection with the deaths in Malaga.
The 44-year-old man appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on Saturday, June 14 and has been remanded in custody, police said.
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