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Car torched in deliberate fire amid fears of rising gangland violence

News imageBBC Low-angle view of an industrial estate with a row of shuttered garage units and workshops. The foreground shows a damaged asphalt surface with a drain cover, loose debris and potholes, while several parked vehicles sit beside the buildings under a partly cloudy sky.BBC
Scorched tarmac can be seen outside the garage in Kirkintilloch

Police are investigating a deliberate car fire at a garage near Glasgow amid fears of a fresh wave of gangland violence in the city.

The vehicle was torched at Kelvinside Motor Company in Kirkintilloch at 22:55 on Saturday, days after officers attended a "disturbance" at the same property.

The garage was previously targeted in a fire attack in April last year, which police investigated as part of its Operation Portaledge gangland probe.

Police Scotland said there were "no reported injuries" in the latest incident and officers were keeping an open mind over links to Operation Portaledge.

A force spokesperson added: "The fire is being treated as wilful and inquiries are ongoing."

The blaze comes just 24 hours after police confirmed they were investigating a car crash into a house in the suburb of Eaglesham, south of Glasgow.

Officers were called to the property on Low Borland Way at about 13:20 on Friday.

The brick wall of the house, in a quiet cul-de-sac of detached homes, was caved in near the front door with smoke marks visible to the upper floor.

The house remained protected by temporary fencing on Saturday.

News imageGarry F McHarg The front of a modern white house which has been damaged by a collision causing structural damage to the stone facing. There are cracks in the white render up the front of the two-storey building and scorch marks all the way up. A high metal fence has been erected in front of the property. Garry F McHarg
A car crashed into a house in Eaglesham in East Renfrewshire on Friday.

Last month, Police Scotland announced that an ongoing gang feud across central Scotland had come to an end.

The force said Operation Portaledge had brought dozens of arrests and there was a "resolution of differences" between rival groups.

But last week The Daily Record newspaper reported a flare-up of violence, with the Lyons crime family ordering attacks on rival members of the Daniel clan.

The trouble first began in Edinburgh in March last year and led to a series of fire bombings and attempted murders - 84 separate incidents in total.

It has been linked to a fallout between Ross McGill, the former head of Rangers FC's fan group the Union Bears, and Edinburgh drug dealer Mark Richardson - who is currently in prison.

'War between rivals'

A resurgence of violence in January and February this year saw another wave of arrests.

Several of the Operation Portaledge cases which have come to court resulted in lengthy jail sentences.

Arran Reid was imprisoned for eight years and four months after admitting carrying out a machete attack on an Edinburgh businessman linked to Richardson.

And four men were jailed or detained for a total of 25 years over a series of fire attacks in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Police Scotland Chief Constable Jo Farrell said it was "a deeply concerning war between rivals".