A gangland war on the streets of Britain's cities escalated this week, after a fresh arson attack saw flames ravage a carpet factory associated with the infamous Daniel crime family - one of many such attacks to have taken place in the past month.
Chilling footage emerged online, capturing the Bishopbriggs, Glasgow, property being consumed by fire, underscored ominously by The Prodigy's hit "Firestarter". The video concludes with a grim warning intended for some of Scotland's most notorious criminals: "Daniel's and Richardson's - every associate, every building will be targeted. Leave Scotland immediately."
The inferno at Carpet and Flooring on Wellington Road in the city marks the latest spike in hostilities that have flared across Edinburgh and Glasgow, where notorious gangs are wielding fires and firearms alike to assert their dominance.
Official records reveal that Craig 'Rob Roy' Gallagher, tied to the Daniel clan, serves as a director of the company linked to the incinerated establishment. From Torrance, East Dunbartonshire, Gallagher was recently imprisoned following an axe attack on associates of the rival Lyons gang.
Following a series of early morning raids, four individuals have been arrested in connection with the feud. Additionally, prison officers are bracing for potential outbreaks of violence within the jails as tensions continue to simmer.
Sources say trouble flared between the rival factions after hoods linked to caged mobster Mark Richardson were accused of stealing a stash of cocaine linked to a Mr Big. The Glasgow mob boss, now operating from Dubai, is said to have established a new crime syndicate, flooding Scotland with illegal imports.
The notorious Glasgow mob boss, now residing in Dubai, is understood to have established a new crime syndicate and started flooding Scotland with illegal products.
Police probing the clashes report that the rival factions are "actively targeting each other", with officers deploying various tactics to tackle those involved.
Below is a timeline of how the gang has unfolded over the last month.
CCTV footage captured a masked and hooded villain hurling a molotov cocktail into Belle Cheveux beauty salon, Edinburgh.
The beauty salon, located on Albert Street in the capital, was hit at about 2.30am.
An inferno was reported at a warehouse unit in Musselburgh, East Lothian, during the early hours.
Close to 50 firefighters battled to put out the fire, which engulfed the Eskmills Road property around 12.30am, causing the roof to cave in and leaving the structure gutted by flames.
Another fire erupted, this time in Portobello, Edinburgh.
A garage on Milton Road East in the capital's seaside district was engulfed in flames. Fire crews spent three and a half hours fighting to control the fire.
Gunfire echoed through Niddrie as a black-clad shooter targeted a residence. The shooting occurred on Marischal Crescent in the early hours, with the assailant caught on video executing the attack.
At approximately 7:55am, a window of a ground-floor flat in West Pilton Bank, Edinburgh, was shot out.
Police officers were stationed outside the property, with a large cordon surrounding the flat, as they worked to reassure residents in the area who were living in fear.
Following the two shootings, police confirmed that they believed both incidents were 'targeted' attacks between two rival crime gangs.
A property in Hay Drive, Niddrie, was attacked by a thug wearing a balaclava at around 4:30am. The yob threw a petrol bomb through a window, and a chilling video clip was shared online afterwards.
The video, which had the Motown song 'Nowhere to Run, Nowhere to Hide' playing in the background, showed a series of attacks. The incidents are understood to be on properties linked to Richardson.
At the end of the video, a message appears stating: "This is a message to anyone associated with Mark Richardson.We are only just getting started. We are coming for all of yous".
Sources in the underworld claim that the mastermind behind the carnage is unconcerned about "collateral damage". They said: "The guy's house got shot at during the night and it's all linked to the recent fire attacks as he is part of Richardson's crew.
"It's scary as he has kids but it seems like this new player isn't bothered about collateral damage. He is based in Dubai and Richardson's crew stole a stash of drugs from him so he's going after them.
"Another one of Richardson's crew also lives nearby and was confronted by armed thugs in the street then chased. It's all getting out of hand and someone is going to be seriously hurt."
It emerged that key lieutenants who had helped plan and execute attacks on Richardson’s empire had fled to Dubai.
The Edinburgh duo - who we have chosen not to name - assembled the firebomb and firearms teams.
Their footsoldiers carried out shotgun and firebomb attacks on properties before they went to ground.
In an effort to quell the feud, Police Scotland conducted a series of dawn raids, resulting in the detention of four individuals. A large contingent of armed officers from Edinburgh and eastern Scotland stormed several properties.
Specialist units from Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism executed search warrants at five locations. This premeditated operation led to the confiscation of a stolen Range Rover and several other items pertinent to the ongoing investigation.
A 28-year-old man was arrested and charged with threatening and abusive behaviour. A 38-year-old man was apprehended and charged for possession of a stolen motor vehicle.
A 34-year-old woman was also taken into custody in relation to a stolen vehicle but was later released pending further investigation. Additionally, a 16-year-old male was arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle and various traffic violations.
He was also held for possessing an offensive weapon during incidents that took place on Friday, March 7. His case has been referred to the Procurator Fiscal.
Insiders at Edinburgh's Saughton Prison warned of an impending "bloodbath" amid growing animosities.
Prison officers are reportedly on high alert for a violent outbreak among rival groups, with notable figures in Scotland's criminal world likely to be embroiled.
Drug lord Jamie "Iceman" Stevenson and his crew are apparently on "semi-protection" due to the anticipated continuation of conflicts.
Stevenson is also rumoured to have sought a transfer as the tumult spills over into the penal system.
It is understood that he and two principal allies have endeavoured to arrange relocation to another facility.
In the early hours of Friday morning, the Hay Drive property was targeted again - for the second time in 12 days. This time the blaze spread to the house next door, with a dozen firefighters battling the aftermath.
As well as the roof damage, the windows also appear blackened with smoke. An eyewitness said: "Someone bombed our neighbour's house. They bombed the same house twice, 12 days apart.
An onlooker recalled, "Someone bombed our neighbour's house. They bombed the same house twice, 12 days apart."
In addition, a nearby household, comprising a family with a young child, managed to escape harm.
Subsequently, a sinister video surfaced depicting a door in Glasgow being soaked with petrol by an incognito figure, then set ablaze. The clip proceeded to show a Molotov cocktail hurled through a window at Hay Drive in Edinburgh, sparking a fierce inferno.
The recorded incidents also included a calculated arson attack on Kelvinside Motor Company located on Milton Road in Kirkintilloch, executed around 3:10 am on April 4.
The gripping footage comes to a haunting close with a direct threat against the Daniel clan, declaring: "We are urging everyone in Scotland on the streets and those incarcerated to join us in the fight against Mark Richardson and the Daniels family."
The message accuses them of long-time theft, saying: "These rats have been thieving for a long time. It's time for people to stand together as one and remove this vermin from our streets. Tamo Junto."
A man faced charges for intentionally setting fire to a beauty salon and a garage.
Glasgow was rocked by multiple arson attacks, with three residential properties – located on Meadow Court, Ashgill Road, and Gala Street – becoming targets for petrol bomb assaults in the dead of night. Security footage captured hooded figures lobbing incendiary devices through windows, leading to the properties being swallowed by flames.
On the same day, Kelvinside Motor Company in Kirkintilloch and a residential property in Robroyston were also torched in attacks caught on camera. In the footage, masked men dressed in black launch firebombs and issue a direct warning to the Daniel crime clan, declaring they will “remove them from the streets.”
A terrifying video posted online shows the Carpet and Flooring factory in Bishopbriggs, Glasgow, going up in smoke to the soundtrack of The Prodigy’s “Firestarter” – before ending with a stark warning aimed directly at some of Scotland’s most feared underworld figures.
The concluding warning stated: "Daniels and Richardsons – every associate, every building will be targeted. Leave Scotland immediately."
Legal documents confirm Daniel clan associate Craig ‘Rob Roy’ Gallagher is a director of a firm linked to the burnt-out unit. Gallagher, from Torrance, East Dunbartonshire, was jailed last week after carrying out an axe attack on Lyons gang associates in broad daylight – a flashpoint in the deepening feud.
Emergency services were alerted around 12.30am on Tuesday, and six fire appliances raced to the scene. While no injuries were reported, the factory was completely gutted, with images from the site showing charred walls, collapsed roofing and smoke-stained wreckage.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service confirmed: “There are no reported casualties. Crews remain in attendance.”
The man charged over the beauty salon and garage firebombing incidents also appeared in court. Logan Carlin, 23, faced two charges of wilful fireraising, as well as a charge of resetting a stolen vehicle and breaching bail conditions.
Carlin, of Edinburgh, made no plea to the charges, was committed for further examination and remanded in custody.
