Police investigating potential ‘gang feud’ links after cars torched outside East Lothian home
Officers in East Lothian have launched an investigation after a car was deliberately set on fire in Tranent.
The incident happened at around 12.30am on Thursday, January 22 outside a home in Jackson Way. It is understood enquiries are at an early stage but police are not ruling out potential links to organised crime.
Images from the scene show three cars burnt out following the ‘wilful fireraising’ with two vehicles completely destroyed. There were no reported injuries following the incident.
One resident told the Evening News: “We saw a car pull into the street and at least one person dressed in dark clothing there but it was hard to see. The next thing we knew one of the cars went up in flames and then they got back into their car and left.”
In the last 10 months there has been a number of ‘gang-related crimes’ reported across Edinburgh and the west of the country. Last year Police Scotland launched Operation Portaledge in response to a string of fire-bombings, shootings and assaults across central Scotland.
It is understood police are keeping an open mind into the recent incident in Tranent with potential links to Operation Portaledge being one line of enquiry. The nationwide crackdown has seen more than 60 people arrested since March last year.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “At around 12.30am on Thursday, January 22, we received a report of a vandalism and a vehicle fire at a property on Jackson Way, Tranent.
“Emergency services attended and there were no reports of any injuries.
“Enquiries are at an early stage into the vandalism and wilful fireraising. Anyone with information should contact 101 quoting incident number 0068 of January 22.”