An associate of Edinburgh crime figure Mark Richardson was reportedly attacked with machetes on a residential street in East Lothian late on Easter Monday, prompting a police response and two arrests. The incident adds fresh momentum to a year-long gangland feud that has already drawn a sustained national policing operation.
Officers were called to Drummohr Avenue, in Wallyford near Musselburgh, at about 11.15pm on Monday, April 6. A 31-year-old man suffering serious cuts was taken to hospital; his current condition has not been disclosed by authorities.
Two men, aged 38 and 43, were arrested in connection with the assault and remain in custody as enquiries continue, Police Scotland said. Investigators described the incident as a serious assault and confirmed enquiries were ongoing.
What happened and why it matters now
The attack is being examined against the backdrop of an escalating criminal conflict between rival Glasgow and Edinburgh groups. Police have been running a long-term investigation into a string of violent episodes linked to the feud.
That operation, known to officers as Operation Portaledge, has already led to dozens of arrests and several prison sentences. The latest attack signals the conflict is continuing to spill onto public streets, raising concerns about community safety across central Scotland.
- Time and place: About 11.15pm, Drummohr Avenue, Wallyford (Musselburgh).
- Victim: A 31-year-old man taken to hospital with cut injuries.
- Suspects: Two men, 38 and 43, arrested and held while enquiries continue.
- Wider context: Linked to an ongoing gangland turf war under Police Scotland’s Operation Portaledge.
- Recent related attacks: Firebombings in Glasgow’s Possilpark area and petrol-bomb attacks connected to members of Richardson’s circle.
Recent violence across Scotland
In the early hours of Easter Monday, two senior figures associated with the Daniel crime family were reportedly targeted in separate fire attacks in Glasgow’s Possilpark area. Reports say a campervan and a car were set alight within minutes of each other in locations tied to the clan.
Last week, vehicles outside a property linked to Richardson’s group were petrol-bombed, while at the end of March rival boss Steven Lyons was detained in Bali on an Interpol red notice — events that sources say have helped to fuel a fresh cycle of reprisals.
Police and prosecutors have previously tied the feud’s origins to a dispute over a large drugs consignment and a suspected fraud involving counterfeit banknotes, which intensified tit-for-tat attacks across both cities.
Police response and public impact
Police Scotland said officers were called to the scene and that enquiries remain active. No further operational details were released, and there has been no official update on the injured man’s condition beyond his transfer to hospital for treatment.
The ongoing violence has put a spotlight on the resources and tactics devoted to tackling organised crime, from local patrols to the national coordination under Operation Portaledge. For residents in affected neighbourhoods, the repeated incidents have heightened unease and disrupted everyday life.
As investigations continue, detectives are expected to review CCTV, forensics and witness accounts to establish the full circumstances of Monday’s street attack and any direct links to earlier incidents.
Hi, I’m Benjamin, a member of the Sherburne County Citizen team. With a passion for writing and a deep interest in current affairs, I thoroughly enjoy bringing you the latest news and trends that affect our daily lives.
