Scotland Terror Attack Plans Investigated by Multi-Agency Police Inquiry

In Scotland, a counterterrorism investigation, known as Operation Ferulic, was launched following suspicions of a planned firearms attack in the Edinburgh area. This multi-agency inquiry, led by Police Scotland with support from the National Crime Agency (NCA), focused on what was described as “the apparent preparation for a terrorist attack.” The operation saw collaboration from various specialists, including forensic clinical psychologists and behavioral investigative advisors, to assess risks and prepare for interviews. However, the outcomes of the investigation, including any arrests or charges, have not been disclosed.
The involvement of the NCA, the UK’s leading agency against organized crime, in Operation Ferulic was highlighted in a report to the Scottish Police Authority. This report also covered the NCA’s broader activities in Scotland for the period between October 2023 and March 2024, revealing a 10% increase in investigations into serious and organized crime compared to the previous year. Significant operations during this period included major crackdowns on drug trafficking, firearms, child sexual abuse, and efforts to combat modern slavery and human trafficking. Notably, the NCA supported actions against a scheme targeting elderly and vulnerable victims in a large-scale fraud case and operations against an Eastern European crime group suspected of forcing young Romanian women into prostitution.
Additionally, the NCA played a critical role in responding to a cyber attack against NHS Dumfries and Galloway, in which hackers stole three terabytes of data and published it on the dark web. The agency’s cyber crime unit provided vital real-time intelligence to mitigate the impact of this attack.
Police Scotland has yet to comment on the findings and outcomes of Operation Ferulic and the broader implications of the NCA’s report on organized crime and counterterrorism efforts in the region.