Three women, aged 31, 34 and 42, have been arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000 after a van was driven into an external fence of a business premises at Crewe Toll.
The incident happened during a disturbance in the Crewe Road North area this morning (Tuesday, 15 July, 2025).
Police Scotland’s Counter Terrorism Unit are leading the investigation and enquiries are ongoing.
Police are treating this as targeted, and do not believe there is any wider threat to the public.
If anyone was on Crewe Road North or in the nearby supermarket carpark during the early hours of this morning and has any relevant dashcam footage or saw anything suspicious, please contact the Police on 101 quoting reference 0416 of 15 July.
Police have released an image of a man they believe may be able to assist with their investigation into a serious assault in Edinburgh that took place on Clifton Terrace around 12am on Sunday, 2 February 2025.
The man in the image is described as white, in his late 20s to mid-30s and of slim build. He was wearing a dark blue jacket, black jogging bottoms, white trainers, a black Adidas rucksack and a dark coloured baseball cap.
Detective Sergeant Mark Asquith said: “We would encourage this man, anyone who may recognise him, or anyone with information about this incident to get in touch.”
Anyone who can assist is asked to contact Police Scotland via 101, quoting reference number 0034 of 2 February 2025. Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be given anonymously.
On Saturday, Community Officers and Special Constables from our North East Support Team (#NEST) patrolled Portobello Beach throughout the day, robustly challenging and addressing any antisocial behaviour.
During a foot patrol, NEST officers engaged in a foot pursuit. They apprehended an individual who has since been charged with multiple drug supply offences involving Class A and B substances. The individual has been issued police bail, banning them from returning to Portobello, pending a court appearance at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.
Officers will continue visibly patrolling Portobello and engaging with the local community over the summer period.
A 39-year-old man has been arrested and charged following the recovery of drugs with an estimated street value in excess of £347,760, in South West Edinburgh.
Around 12pm on Wednesday, 9 July 2025, officers acting on information received searched a flat in Calder Road where they found a cannabis cultivation.
The man was due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday and a report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.
Proactive action by Police Scotland saw officers safeguard a number of vulnerable people who are exploited by drug dealers, during a national County Lines intensification week.
County Lines drug dealers from larger cities expand their criminal activity into smaller communities to exploit young and vulnerable people to sell drugs, carry cash and weapons – bringing violence, coercion and abuse. They can also take over a vulnerable person’s house – known as cuckooing.
The UK-wide initiative – co-ordinated by the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) – took place between Monday, 23 and Monday, 30 June 2025.
During the intensification week, officers across Scotland safeguarded over 100 vulnerable people and engaged with almost 2800 more. They also visited more than 40 addresses believed to be used by drug dealers as a cuckooing house.
Illegal drugs, cash and offensive weapons were also recovered.
Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston said: “Protecting vulnerable people in our communities, particularly children and young people who are all too often coerced, groomed and threatened by County Lines drug dealers remains a priority for Police Scotland officers.
“We work tirelessly in partnership with a wide range of organisations, including the members of Scotland’s Serious Organised Crime Taskforce, to target individuals who snare them and force them to carry out crimes on their behalf.”
Throughout the intensification week 42 people – 34 men, seven women and one male youth – were arrested and 15 evidential search and apprehension warrants were executed.
More than 300 cannabis plants with a value of value of £280,000 were recovered.
Other illegal drugs, including £67,000 of herbal cannabis, more than £2,100 of cannabis resin, cocaine and crack cocaine with a street value of more than £85,000 and heroin worth around £45,000 were also seized.
Offensive weapons, including knives, an axe and a machete, were discovered during the activity by officers.
ACC Houston continued: “The positive results during the intensification week are an example of our continuing work in support of national initiatives aimed at frustrating and disrupting the activities of those who involved in County Lines drugs dealing.
“Organised criminals don’t care about anyone other than themselves, they only care about power and money.
“They travel to exploit vulnerable people in our communities and their criminality is simply not welcome in Scotland and will not be tolerated.”
Justice Secretary, and Chair of Scotland’s Serious Organised Crime Taskforce, Angela Constance said: “I welcome Police Scotland’s positive outcomes from the county lines intensification week, which has safeguarded a number of individuals. It is despicable that organised criminals seek to benefit by exploiting young and vulnerable people.
“Partners on Scotland’s Serious Organised Crime Taskforce are fully committed to using all means at their disposal to identify and support those at risk, and to ensure the criminals involved are brought to justice.”
Anyone who has concerns about County Lines or information about who may be involved in this insidious criminal activity should get in touch with Police Scotland or anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
TWO further arrests have been made in connection with Operation Portaledge, the investigation into violent incidents in the East and West of the country. This brings the total number of arrests to 52.
On Thursday, 3 July, 2025, police arrested a 22-year-old man in connection with wilful fire-raising to two vehicles on Campion Road and Niddrie Marischal Crescent in Edinburgh on 9 June, 2025. He was released pending further enquiries. This is the second arrest in connection with this incident.
On Friday, 4 July, 2025, around 9.50am, officers executed a warrant in Blantyre and arrested a 49-year-old man in connection with an attempted murder in Pitcairn Grove, Edinburgh on Friday 22 May, 2025. This is the third arrest in connection with this incident.
The 49-year-old has also been arrested and charged in connection with drugs offences.
He is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday, 7 July, 2025.
POLICE are appealing for the public’s assistance in tracing a missing man from the north of the city.
Nihat Karani, 63, was last seen at around 9.30pm last night (Thursday, 3 July, 2025) in the Royston Mains Crescent area. He left here on foot and hasn’t been seen or heard from since.
He is described as around 5ft 6ins tall, of stocky build, with grey/white hair and a moustache. He wears glasses which he has on a chain around his neck and was last seen wearing a black jacket, blue jeans and white trainers.
Nihat’s first language is Bulgarian and he speaks limited English.
Inspector George Nisbet from Drylaw Police Station said: “Nihat knows the city and is known to visit Edinburgh’s park and green spaces, but he rarely does this alone.
“He walks with a walking stick which he had in his possession when he was last seen.
“We have a number of police resources looking for Nihat and I would ask anyone who may have seen him, or a man matching his description, to report this to us as soon as possible.”
Those with information should contact Police Scotland via 101 and quote incident number 0196 of 4 July 2025.
The charity Crimestoppers Scotland has launched a new campaign appealing for information about the dangerous and illegal use of off-road motorbikes and other mechanically propelled bikes across Scotland.
There has been rising concerns and reports from communities across Scotland over the illegal use of off-road bikes and other mechanically propelled bikes including mopeds, e-bikes and e-scooters.
Complaints often centre around off-road bikes becoming a threat to the public as the bikes are ridden recklessly in residential areas, town centres, on pavements and in green spaces – with no concern from the riders for their own safety or that of the public.
Crimestoppers spoke to people in Scotland who has been directly affected by dangerous and illegal use of off-road bikes:
A Farmer in Dumfries told us his fields had been ripped up overnight, costing thousands in repairs and increased security costs.
An elderly lady in Edinburgh almost stepped in front of a bus to prevent a bike on the pavement from crashing into her.
In February Whinhill Golf Club in Greenock experienced extensive damage to the greens and fairways.
Angela Parker, National Manager, Crimestoppers Scotland, said: “We heard from many people who felt scared and threatened by the increased use of illegal off-road bikes. This illegal activity also damages the environment and heritage, taking years to recovers and costing thousands to repair.
“Our campaign aims to support communities in reporting anonymously to our charity and providing information on where people can safely and legally enjoy riding their bike.”
Victims and Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown, said: “I’m pleased to support this important campaign.
“Using off-road vehicles illegally is dangerous, anti-social and can cause huge disruption to residents in local communities as well as causing damage to parks, playing fields and the natural environment.
Crimestoppers enables individuals to report crime anonymously and these reports help the police to tackle this crime. Together, we can make a real difference.”
Councillor Stephen McCabe, leader of Inverclyde Council, said: “These bikes are causing untold damage and misery in our community, damaging public and private property and leaving residents feeling scared and intimidated, which is simply unacceptable.
“Areas like Grieve Road have been particularly affected by the rise in off-road bikes and the course at Whinhill Golf Club, which the council owns, has also been damaged so there is a cost to the taxpayers to repair the fairways and greens, not to mention the inconvenience caused for golfers and staff.
“As with most things, the authorities need the help of the public to tackle this problem by reporting illegal and anti-social activity and Crimestoppers is a way in which people can do that and do it completely anonymously.”
Useful information includes:
Who is riding them illegally and what they were wearing?
The names of those responsible for putting the public and themselves in danger.
Where are they being stored?
The exact location, date and time the bike/s were seen?
Anything distinctive: colour, make, number plate details.
If you own or ride an off-road bike or other mechanically propelled bike, (that includes e-bikes and e-scooters), you must ensure that you comply with UK law. Our campaign webpage gives useful information on all manner of bikes.
To pass on information about the illegal use of off-road bikes completely anonymously, visit the Crimestoppers website (Crimestoppers-uk.org). You can fill in a safe and secure form or you can call the 24/7 UK-based Contact Centre on 0800 555 111. Young people can also report crime via the charity’s youth service website Fearless.org.
Please note: With Crimestoppers-uk.org and Fearless.org, computer IP addresses are never traced and no-one will ever know you contacted them.
For telephone calls to Crimestoppers via 0800 555 111, there is no caller line display, no 1471 facility and calls have never been traced.
Six men have been convicted following a number of serious and organised crime incidents in Edinburgh and Midlothian.
Michael Heeps, Lee Ridgway, John Murray, Dale Bauld, Damien Mullen and Ryan McGovern were found guilty at the High Court in Glasgow yesterday, Tuesday, 1 July, 2025, following a trial which lasted seven weeks.
They were convicted of numerous offences including attempted murder, wilful fire-raising and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Detective Superintendent Paul Grainger said: “The violence involved in each of these cases is completely unacceptable.
“Although these were all targeted attacks, those involved showed absolutely no regard for the communities affected.
“These incidents could have had much more serious consequences, and I want to make it clear this behaviour will not be tolerated.
“Each of these incidents formed part of a long and incredibly complex investigation.
“Detectives, working alongside specialist officers from across the country, were meticulous in going through every detail and ultimately bringing these six men to justice.
“I would like to thank them, as well as our partners in forensic services and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal services, for their work. I would also like to thank the public for their support throughout the investigation.
“These convictions show Police Scotland’s commitment to the Serious and Organised Crime Taskforce and its national strategy.
“I want to make it clear to those intent on being involved in serious and organised crime that we will not give up and you will be brought to justice.”
