Man Arrested In Firearms Probe

A man has been arrested by police investigating firearms incidents which took place almost five months ago.

Officers searched three properties in Edinburgh and Tranent and also recovered a firearm from a rural area as part of their investigation into the events on September 20.

That day shots were fired at a vehicle parked in The Murrays Brae in Edinburgh at around 9.30pm and a suspicious, but non-viable, device was left.

A few minutes later shots were discharged at a property in Gilmerton Dykes Drive and another non-viable device was left in Walter Scott Avenue.

Yesterday, police with warrants searched properties in Stenhouse Gardens North and Loganlea Avenue in Edinburgh, and at Baxters Neuk in Tranent, East Lothian.

They seized a number of items for further investigation. They also recovered a firearm from a rural area in the vicinity of Gifford, East Lothian, which will be forensically examined.

A 26-year-old man has been arrested and charged with firearms offences and is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday.

Detective Chief Inspector Kenny Gray said: "We are continuing to follow a positive line of inquiry and demonstrating that we will stamp down on those involved in organised crime.''

He added: "The owning of illegal firearms will not be tolerated and we will act on information we receive in order to crack down on this illegal activity in order to get them off the streets and to make our communities safer.

"I'd like to thank members of the community for their patience and we have been greatly assisted by information coming in from the public.''