Machete attack on drug dealer sparks fear of new gangland war on streets of Edinburgh

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A machete attack on a convicted drug dealer near his home has sparked fears of a renewed gang war in Edinburgh.Edmond Reid - who has links to Scots cocaine kingpin Mark Richardson - was set upon in the capital’s Inch area.It’s understood Reid, 36, escaped injury as cops in the area were able to intervene and his attacker fled.The incident on Saturday night followed an alleged blade attack on an associate of another drug baron and Richardson rival last week.The last feud between the pair saw T2 Trainspotting star Bradley Welsh gunned down outside his New Town address in 2019.Reid was jailed for three years in January 2015 for his role in a drug gang after cops bugged a van to bust their trafficking network.Sources said Reid was the victim of a “targeted gangland attack” by a man in a balaclava with a machete, but got lucky as police officers were nearby.One insider said: “Four police officers witnessed it and intervened in the attack.“If it wasn’t for police this would’ve been a lot worse.

The attacker got away in stolen car.”The attack on a close pal of Richardson’s rival - whom the Record can’t name for legal reasons - took place in Dalkeith, Midlothian.A source described how the man was “chopped up” during the assault.The source added: “Tit-for-tat attacks was how it began last time and it ended with Brad Welsh being murdered.”Richardson is linked to the Daniels crew while the other gangland boss is associated with the Lyons clan.The attacker pounced on Reid and tried to strike him with a weapon in Cumnor Crescent at around 8.35pm on Saturday.The suspect is described as white, mid to late teens, around 5ft 6in tall, and of skinny build.