Shooting inquiry targets business with links to drug dealer's family

A BUSINESS linked to the father of a jailed drug gang leader has been searched by police as part of the investigation into the shooting of a property developer outside a city gym.

• Officers search land near the At Your Disposal site. Right, on guard at Baileyfield Industrial Estate

A team of specialist officers descended on Baileyfield Industrial Estate in Portobello to conduct a sweep of the area.

Detectives confirmed the operation was part of the inquiry into the shooting of Robert Kelbie, 27, in the car park of Bannatyne's Health Club at Newcraighall two weeks ago.

Police officers were yesterday posted outside the premises of At Your Disposal, a waste management company based on the estate, while the examination continued.

The director of the company is listed as 44-year-old Mark Richardson senior, the father of Mark Richardson, 23, who ran an Inch-based gang linked to a string of shootings.

Sources have linked Mr Kelbie's shooting to a recent assault on a relative of the gang leader, who was jailed for ten years in August after being caught with cocaine worth 700,000.

Police searched through rubble and other debris while a sniffer dog was deployed on the site.

The day after Mr Kelbie was shot, a man was assaulted by a gang of men at the same Portobello yard and taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, where he was placed under armed guard by police.

Meanwhile, police were today set to re-visit West Bryson Road in Polwarth, where a stolen Vauxhall Vectra was abandoned in the car park around 20 minutes after the shooting of ex-boxer Mr Kelbie, who police sources said had a "long list of enemies".

Detectives believe it may have been the getaway vehicle used in the shooting, and two men were caught on CCTV running from the car park where it was dumped and later burnt out.

A police incident vehicle will be stationed on the street in front of the Harrison Park apartments and local officers from the safer neighbourhood team will be on patrol to speak with passers-by.

Chief Inspector Murray Dykes said: "While crimes involving firearms continue to fall across the force area, it is important that police provide a visible presence to reassure our communities when such incidents arise.

"Officers will be in West Bryson Road and the surrounding area this evening from 6.30 to 8.30 to ask if they seen or heard anything suspicious.

"Members of the public such as dog walkers and joggers who may frequent the area may have vital information that is of use to the inquiry team and it is those who we are targeting with this appeal. I invite all local residents and even those from further afield who may wish to assist with our enquiries to visit us tonight."