Scotland's gang war 'halted as Mr Big running out of footsoldiers and lying low'
A gang war which has resulted in a number of shootings and firebombings across the central belt has shuddered to a halt after the crime lord behind the attacks began to 'run out of footsoldiers', according to underworld sources.
Ross McGill, who has been waging war on associates of Edinburgh kingpin Mark Richardson and the notorious Glasgow-based Daniel clan, is believed to be 'lying low'.
A number of businesses, properties and cars linked to Richardson and the Daniel family have been torched during an barrage of terrifying attacks spreading across the east and west of the country since March.
Those associated with Richardson have repeatedly been targeted, with vehicles torched and several homes allegedly shot at by masked gunmen.
A group called Tamo Junto (TMJ) have continued to taunt their rivals by releasing videos of the attacks and threatening further violence as Dubai-based McGill seeks revenge for an underworld heist.
It is claimed an associate of Richardson paid for a stash of drugs with fake notes after building a relationship with the crime lord. McGill, in retaliation, supposedly used his criminal contacts to wage war on those involved in the deal.
Due to police cracking down on those involved in the gangland feud, however, it has been suggested McGill is now "lying low" after officers investigating the series of violent incidents made a total of 55 arrests.
A source told Edinburgh Live McGill has been left with fewer footsoldiers to do his bidding as several weeks have passed since the last gang-related incident in the capital.
They told our sister title: "Word is McGill is lying low and has taken a backseat. The Eddie Lyons Jnr and Ross Monaghan shootings in Spain was mental as well so things have calmed down a little after that.
"From the beginning there have been more and more characters getting involved and competing to see who was the bravest basically. It has all just become so messy."
It was reported earlier this month McGill was confronted by another gangster at a gym in Dubai over the heat he has brought. Stephen 'Jimmy' Jamieson is understood to have confronted McGill during the bust-up.
The most recent arrest linked to the gang war, named Operation Portaledge by police, came on Friday, July 18, when a man was arrested and charged in connection with wilful fireraising and firearms offences.
Jordan Steele, 38, appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday, July 21, in connection with the alleged firebombing of the Belle Cheveux salon in Leith on March 6.
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He was charged with firearms offences, including possessing a firearm without authorisation. Steele made no plea and was granted bail.
A 26-year-old male was also arrested in connection with alleged damage at a property on Walter Scott Avenue in Edinburgh on Thursday, 12 June, and an alleged wilful fire-raising at a property on Jackson Way in Tranent on Friday, 13 June.
In addition, another 26-year-old man was also charged in connection with two alleged vehicle fires in Port Seton on Sunday, May 18 - he will be reported to the Procurator Fiscal.
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