Torched car found on Edinburgh housing estate near where 'firearm discharged'
A vehicle has been left burnt out on an Edinburgh housing estate where a gun was reportedly shot.
Armed cops swarmed Hailesland Gardens when a bullet was reportedly blasted at around 3.40pm, prompting police to lock down the residential street.
Footage from neighbouring, Hailesland Grove shows what little remains of the vehicle which suffered significant damage from being torched while parked outside dozens of homes.
A 23-year-old was taken to hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries following the incident.
Images from the scene shows a police car behind the shell of the burnt out vehicle, although it has yet to be confirmed if the incidents are linked.
One resident on the street, speaking anonymously, told Edinburgh Live: "It's absolutely terrifying to live here... we don't know if the car fire is related to the shooting but hopefully they find this person.
"There are lots of children in the area and they need to be protected."
Firearms officers were also pictured patrolling a footpath near Hailesland Grove with the area taped off.
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A spokesperson for the force said: "Around 3.40pm on Thursday, 24 July, 2025, we were called to a report of a firearm being discharged in the Hailesland Gardens area of Edinburgh.
"A 23-year-old man has attended hospital for treatment to serious but not life-threatening injuries.
"Officers, including specialist firearms officers, are in attendance and extensive enquiries are ongoing."
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North Wales Live
an hour ago
- North Wales Live
Hospital worker and husband planned brutal rape of young children
A hospital worker and her husband, who sent depraved messages to each other, where they planned and discussed the rape and sexual abuse of children, have been jailed. During the sick messages, they spoke about taking one child to a shed where they would rape and choke her, and spoke about "disposing" of her, a court heard. Tracy Turner, 52, and Stuart Compton, 46, from Cardiff, were also found to be in possession of indecent images of children being sexually abused. Compton had also told other like-minded paedophiles his "preference" was for children aged between one and six years old, reports WalesOnline. A sentencing hearing at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Monday heard the messages came to light following the arrests of the couple in June, 2024, and the police received information from a well known dating app. For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter. There were more than 100,000 lines of messages between the defendants over WhatsApp, in which they spoke in detail about committing sexual acts against real children, and referred to each other as "Bonnie and Clyde". In 2022, the couple began discussing the rape of a girl, who was under the age of 10. Prosecutor Matthew Cobbe said Compton and Turner, an operating theatre assistant at the University Hospital of Wales, planned to take the girl for a walk in woodland and a nearby cemetery before taking her to a shed near a rail line and carrying out the "brutal acts". Compton was said to be "obsessed" with performing a sex act on the child before raping her. They also discussed Turner performing a sex act upon the child, to "make her ready" for Compton to rape her. During these discussions, Compton described masturbating at the thought of the abuse, with Turner encouraging him, and on occasions she would describe masturbating. Mr Cobbe said: "They both recognised the brutality of the sexual acts that they discussed, they recognised that they would need to take steps to ensure (the child) could not cry out or scream as she was being abused." The defendants came to the conclusion Turner would sit on the child's face, to prevent any sound of distress or call for help. The prosecutor added: "They recognised the abuse for what it was, they recognised that it was rape. It was not a realization that it would amount to rape, instead they were clearly stimulated by the fact that it was rape.... "They discussed that they could choke (the child). Compton derived a thrill from the prospect of continuing to rape (the child) both during the choking and after she lost consciousness. "They recognised that the completion of the act would in turn lead to the difficult prospect of what to do next with (the child). They discussed disposal of (the child), Compton clearly linked the choking to a fatal conclusion." The court heard that Compton claimed he would "accept all responsibility" for the act if either of them were arrested. He added: "There will be blood and tears babe so be prepared". Turner said she would not tell anyone, and added: "The only person who knows my darkest secrets is you." Their attention later turned to a boy, who was under the age of 13 when Compton told Turner he would get the boy to feel her breasts. After initially being reluctant, Turner quickly agreed she would like to have sexual intercourse with the boy, and told Compton she was masturbating at the thought of having sex with him. Compton told Turner this was "different from fantasy" and he wanted to do this for "real". They spoke about grooming the boy by touching him. Mr Cobbe said the ultimate plan was for Turner to perform a sex act on (the boy) and to cause him to penetrate her. He said Compton said that he wanted to watch and at one stage admitted that he also wanted to carry out a sex act on the boy. It was also said Turner called Compton (the boy's) name during sex and Compton fantasised about having sex with Turner, the boy and the female child together. Reference was also made to a second girl, who was also under the age of 10. Compton told Turner he had masturbated over the thought of her. During their conversation, Compton told Turner he had a sexual desire for girls under the age of 10, and told her to leave him. He went on to tell Turner he would handcuff her while performing sex acts on the girl and he wanted to rape the girl. Compton said he wanted to steal the child's underwear and for her to sit on his lap. They spoke about a plan to sexually abuse the child, but Turner said she would "end her life" if anyone became aware of the plan. She went on to say she was "turned on" by the plan, but it "felt so wrong". The couple spoke about giving the girl a sleeping tablet or diazepam and once she was unconscious they would position her body and take photos of her. Compton described the plan as "my favourite fantasy of all through realism and sexiness combined". On June 25 last year, police officers located Compton smoking a cigarette outside the Crwys pub in Cardiff and he was arrested. He claimed the dating app he was signed up to had been "hacked". The defendant told the officers his phone was at work and Turner approached them, wanting to know what was going on. Compton was taken to Cardiff Bay police station, and officers returned to the pub to speak to Turner, who also claimed her husband had left his phone at work. The pub manager later handed a mobile phone to the police, which Turner had given to her and asked her to look after it. A search of Compton's home led to the seizure of a sharp ended baton, a knuckle duster and a concealed blade. His phone was examined and a number of indecent images of children were discovered in the gallery app and within the Session app. A total of 22 category A images, six category B images and 39 category C images were discovered and related to children who were of primary school age. Compton had also been distributing images on WhatsApp and Session to paedophiles, during which he adopted different identities, and told contacts his preference was for children aged between one and six years old. Turner's phone was found to contain one category B image and nine category C images, which had been sent to her by Compton, as well as videos of him masturbating while they were discussing child abuse. In 2023, the couple discussed going to a "family festival" where there would be young children, with Compton saying he'd like to go to a "hippy one, where lots of drugs consumed leaving unattended girls, great f****** idea that's genius babe." During his police interview, Compton claimed the conversations were "role play" and that one of the children they were discussing was not real. Turner claimed she was "not being serious" and denied having any sexual interest in children, saying Compton was a "fantasist" and had "manipulated her". Compton, of Daniel Street, Cathays, later pleaded guilty to six counts of arranging a child sex offence, three counts of making indecent images, and three counts of distributing indecent images. Turner, of Ninian Road, Roath, pleaded guilty to six counts of arranging a child sex offence and two counts of making indecent images. Both defendants were of previous good character. A series of victim personal statements were read to the court by Mr Cobbe, the first from the mother of the first female child. She said: "Police visited our home and informed us our child had been discussed by the defendants in a sexual nature. It's difficult to describe the impact on us as parents, we are overcome with emotion, sickness and shock. The increased sense of protectiveness over our children is overwhelming... "How did no-one see what was happening?... When we learnt the extent of the charges it was gut wrenching and devastating. I was unable to sleep or eat, I lost my appetite and felt upset or sick all the time. Our family dynamic has changed and our relationship as a couple is strained and has deteriorated. It's constantly on my mind and my husband tries to put it in a box. I become numb and he becomes angry at the world. "We have taken independence away from our children for fear of something else happening. I didn't know who I could trust, we had to make changes for our family to feel safe and feel an overwhelming sense of protectiveness. The decisions we make as parents are very different out of paranoia and fear... "We're trying to rescue our family from something that is out of our hands. Sometimes it's very real and sometimes it's like a soap opera. How has this happened to our child? We feel guilty, overwhelmed and out of control... The thought of what could have happened to our daughter by two people with monstrous sexual intent is unimaginable. The gravity of this is huge and hard to put into words." The next statement is from the second female child's father. He said: "The pain they have put me and my family through is incomprehensible... I hope what they have done to me and my family stays with them for the rest of their lives." The second female child's mother said: "Our world is turned upside down. It's difficult to process the information which was given to us by police and devastated to learn of our daughter's involvement in their distorted schemes... We'll have to try and navigate our lives and this will hang over us until we are able to do so. I am furious I have been put in this situation to lie to my child to protect her from the harsh reality of the truth... I hope I can regain some sort of balance and the internal horror will diminish." In mitigation, Kevin Seal, for Compton, said his client was a user of drugs including cocaine and cannabis, and was misusing alcohol. He said the defendant had a mild depressive and anxiety disorder, chronic pain in his back and had been diagnosed with compulsive sexual behaviour disorder. Nicola Powell, for Turner, said her client had worked for the NHS for 33 years "without blemish" and was suffering from a number of issues including stress, financial debt, low mood, anxiety and depression. The barrister described the defendant having an "unhealthy relationship" with Compton, which was described as "consuming, possessive, controlling and oppressive". It was also said she abused alcohol and took cocaine every day having been introduced by her co-defendant. The defendant said she had ended her relationship with Compton, and told a probation officer: "I just said what he wanted to hear, I never thought any of it would have happened. I wish I reported it to the police, I regret it every hour of every day." Sentencing, the Recorder of Cardiff, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke said: "There was clear intent to arrange sexual acts but these acts did not take place." Referring to the messages and plans made by the defendants, the judge said: "They were not pure fantasy, you both had a sexual interest in children and intended to carry out your brutal sexual plans... Your actions have devastated the families of the children involved." Judge Lloyd-Clarke said she found both defendants posed a significant risk to children and were dangerous in respects of the legal definition. Compton was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of seven years. He was emotionless as the sentence was delivered. Turner, who sobbed throughout the hearing, was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment with an extended licence period of two years. Both defendants were made subject to sex offender notification requirements for life, and to Sexual Harm Prevention Orders and restraining orders until further notice.
Belfast Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
‘It's just the unknown': Brother of Belfast man missing in France to fly to Paris to intensify search
Robert Kincaid, from the Tullycarnet area, was due to arrive in Dublin on the evening of July 17, but never boarded his flight. The 38-year-old oil rig worker was returning from a stint working at a west African site in Benin and was set to board his connecting flight from Charles De Gaulle airport in Paris. Louis Kincaid, Robert's brother, said that he had also previously worked in central Africa. His last known point of contact is understood to have been a video call with a friend made from a bar in the airport. Louis told this newspaper: 'I think he was in the airport bar having a chat basically. As far as I'm aware, there was nothing bad said, there was nothing suspicious said. 'They were just having a bit of craic over the phone. 'He's a very sociable person, but he could have met someone in the airport bar — we just don't know.' A friend video-called Robert again, although a stranger answered the phone instead. 'It looked like [they were in] a tin corrugated roof building. They basically said the phone [battery] was on 0% in broken English,' Louis explained. The second and final call made to Robert's phone was picked up by a woman, but the caller was unable to make out what was said before the line was cut off and has been uncontactable ever since. Messages to Robert on WhatsApp and other social media are also no longer being delivered. News Catch Up - Monday 28th July Louis added: 'We're in the dark. We went through the PSNI. We went through the embassy — they've done a fantastic job. I have to give credit to the two girls who are working there now. 'We're trying to get some details, but there are a lot of restrictions with GDPR regarding missing people and it's just roadblocks.' After contacting the PSNI, Louis was directed towards the French authorities, but has found difficulty making contact from Northern Ireland. Louis and a family friend will fly to Paris on Wednesday to meet with British embassy officials who will help the pair liaise with local police. 'There's going to be someone meeting us. 'The Foreign Office has organised someone to meet us, it's someone in the airport,' said Louis. 'They're going to help us with translation, and we're going to file an official missing persons report in Paris, and then we're just going to be going about, putting posters all around places.' Louis added: 'He doesn't have any contacts in France, but he is a very sociable person, he would make friends with anyone.' He explained that his family is growing increasingly worried as time goes on. Louis said: 'They're holding together, it's just the unknown. 'Mum's not really sleeping at the moment. It is starting to get to her as the days go on.'
Daily Record
4 hours ago
- Daily Record
Cost of criminal probe into SNP finances soars to £2.7 million
The cost of a police investigation into allegations of fraud in SNP finances combined with Crown Office spending is now almost £2.7 million. The combined cost resulting from the criminal investigation into SNP finances is now almost £2.7 million, the Daily Record can reveal. Latest figures released from cash strapped Police Scotland show that expenditure on their four year Operation Branchform investigation is now more than £2.2 million - even though it officially ended four months ago. The sums released under Freedom of Information (FOI) include £2.1 million in police officer salary costs, £94,927 in police officer overtime, £2,962 in police staff overtime, £7,691 in transport costs including flights and £11,020 in supplies and services. Earlier this month it was revealed that the separate cost to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service - who will lead any future prosecution - have more than doubled from £206,000 in February to £460,000 this month. That brings the total spent so far by both police and prosecutors to £2.68 million with further extra costs expected. Operation Branchform investigated allegations that £666,953 raised by the SNP since 2017, specifically to campaign for independence in a proposed second Scottish independence referendum, was spent unlawfully on other activities. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. The police investigation was launched in July 2021 following a number of complaints and concluded in March this year. During that 44 month period Nicola Sturgeon resigned as First Minister and SNP leader in February 2023 and was replaced by Humza Yousaf. In April that year, her husband and SNP Chief Executive Peter Murrell was arrested and charged by Police Scotland. As part of their investigation the police searched Murrell and Sturgeon's home in Glasgow and also searched and removed documentation from the SNP's headquarters in Edinburgh. A motorhome, worth around £110,000, was subsequently seized from the home of Peter Murrell's mother in Fife by Branchform detectives. In March Murrell appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on one charge of embezzlement where he made no plea and was granted bail. No date had been set for Murrell's next court appearance. Earlier this month, the Scottish Legal Aid Board confirmed Murrell had been granted legal aid for his defence. One of Scotland's leading KCs Joanna Cherry also called on prosecutors this month to make public the specific details of the allegations against Murrell. Writing on X the former SNP MP said: "I can't understand the delay in indicting Peter Murrell. It's way past time the detail of the charges against him were in the public domain." During Operation Branchform Sturgeon was also arrested and questioned, as was Colin Beattie, the former SNP treasurer. However the police investigations against both were dropped in March with no charges or further action against either. Murrell, who is now separated from Sturgeon, stood down as Chief Executive in 2023 following a row over party membership figures. As of January 2025, the Branchform investigation team consisted of one detective chief inspector, one detective inspector, one detective sergeant and seven detective constables. The latest police FOI cost figures are up to May 31, this year. A Police Scotland spokesperson said:"Given there are live proceedings in this case, it would not be appropriate for us to comment." A spokesperson for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service added: "Resources are being applied to this investigation, which includes an ongoing prosecution, in line with its significance. "Prosecutors take decisions independently, free from political influence or external interference, relying on evidence and the law."
