Man, 38, charged after home linked to Scots kingpin torched amid explosive gang war
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A MAN has been charged with allegedly shooting at a house and carrying out a petrol-bombing on another linked to caged cocaine kingpin Mark Richardson.
The suspect, 26, faces firearms and wilful fire-raising raps over the alleged targeting of the homes including one belonging to the brother of a jailed associate of the Edinburgh drugs baron.
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The home is linked to an ally of crime kingpin Mark Richardson
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It is understood the property belongs to the brother of hood Michael Heeps
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Police at the scene of the alleged shooting.
Credit: SCOTTISH SUN
Flames were seen leaping up to the roof after an alleged attack on a property belonging to Jed Heeps, 37 — whose brother Michael Heeps was jailed earlier this month for 'out of control gangsterism'.
Another man, 38, last night became the 55th to be arrested over the ongoing mob war which has seen a spat of firebombings and gun attacks and spread overseas with the murder of two kingpins in Spain.
A source told The Scottish Sun: 'Police started slow but have really ramped up the pressure.
'Arresting so many people is impressive — but it's convictions that really matter.
'The problem facing police is there's an endless line of guys who are seduced by the gangster lifestyle.
'Some of them are desperate for money.
'Others want the notoriety.'
Ex-Rangers ultras leader Ross 'Miami' McGill sparked the latest round of fighting when he swore revenge after being ripped off with fake notes in a £500,000 cocaine deal.
The Tamo Junto gang boss vowed to 'exterminate' the Daniel clan, Richardson and their allies over being paid counterfeit cash.
His crew claimed responsibility in sinister online videos showing a series of firebomb, gun and machete attacks on their enemies and their loved ones.
'Godfather' Eddie Lyons Snr bids farewell to gunned down son & kingpin pal at double gang funeral
Detectives yesterday revealed a man, 26, has been charged in connection with damage at a property in The Inch, Edinburgh, on June 12.
He also faces a wilful fire-raising rap after Heep's house 10 miles away in Tranent, East Lothian was torched the next day.
Onlookers told how flames could be seen 'leaping up to the roof' with the front door left charred and its guttering snapped and melted.
Another man, 26, has been charged in connection with two motor fires in nearby Port Seton in May.
Police launched Operation Portaledge to tackle the violence which has spread across Scotland's central belt and overseas in the last five months.
A boy of 16 and a girl, 17, are among those lifted in connection with gangland activity.
Detective Chief Superintendent David Ferry leads the force's Specialist Crime Division has vowed to bring all those involved to justice.
He said: 'Police Scotland is taking this extremely seriously.
'We're not complacent.
'There is still lots of work to do and lots of people we're looking at who we need to also bring into custody.'
Dubai-based McGill is being backed by powerful gangsters sheltering from the law in the millionaires' playground.
Exiled mob leader Steven Lyons, 44, whose family has been at war with the Daniels for decades, is among those who is said to have gave his blessing to the upstart hood.
He has links to the Irish Kinahan cartel which has made billions flooding Europe with cocaine and heroin but saw brother Eddie Lyons Jr, 46, and close pal Ross Monaghan, 43, murdered in a hit in May.
Alleged assassin Michael Riley, 44, from Huyton, Merseyside, was arrested in connection with their deaths and is fighting extradition to Spain.
Richardson henchman Michael Heeps is behind bars awaiting sentencing after being convicted of eight charges — including three attempted murders — alongside five others at the High Court in Glasgow earlier this month.
Earlier this month, hundreds gathered to bid farewell to Lyons Jr and Monaghan.
Grieving Godfather Eddie Lyons Snr was seen at the service struggling to contain his emotion.
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Mark Richardson
Credit: SCOTTISH SUN
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