Edinburgh Jewel Asda Gang Blades Clash The Jewel 2026

Key Points

• A violent clash involving masked youths wielding massive blades and batons occurred at The Jewel Asda car park in Edinburgh on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, around 4:20 PM.
• The incident was captured on video, showing two gangs with face coverings engaging in slashing and swinging motions in front of horrified shoppers.​
• One participant held a black baton, another a sharp-edged blade, with a third man in grey jumping nearby and a fourth in a grey-accented hooded sweatshirt carrying a long-bladed weapon.​
• The fight escalated with chases through the car park, including past a petrol pump where a fleeing individual stumbled and was reportedly struck, prompting a bystander to shout, “He’s been slashed!”​
• Another witness exclaimed, “He’s got a big kitchen knife. Oh my goodness. This is like something out of the Middle Ages.”​
• A local resident, aged 49, told Edinburgh Live: “Suddenly, it all just exploded. I’m not sure if these were rival gangs or what, but this is not something you anticipate in broad daylight at your neighborhood supermarket.”​
• Police Scotland received reports of individuals with weapons causing a disturbance; officers including specialised firearms teams responded but did not locate the suspects, with no injuries reported.
• Police statement to the Mirror: “At approximately 4:20 PM on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, we received reports of individuals wielding weapons and causing a disturbance in The Jewel area of Edinburgh. Officers, including specialized firearms teams, responded and conducted a search; however, the individuals involved were not located. Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries. Extensive investigations are currently underway. Anyone with information or concerns is urged to contact police by dialing 101 and referencing incident number 2488 from Wednesday, February 25, 2026.”
• The video spread widely on social media, highlighting concerns over youth gang violence in Edinburgh.
• No arrests have been reported specifically for this incident as of February 26, 2026.​

Edinburgh (Edinburgh Daily News) February 26, 2026 – Masked gangs armed with massive blades and batons clashed violently in The Jewel Asda car park, leaving shoppers terrified in broad daylight, as captured in a shocking video circulating online.​

What Happened in the Shocking Clash?

The confrontation unfolded around 4:20 PM on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at the busy Asda supermarket car park in The Jewel area of Edinburgh. As reported by Mirror journalists, the footage depicts two groups of masked youths brandishing weapons, including what appears to be a black baton in one man’s hand and a sharp-edged blade wielded by his opponent. A man dressed in grey was seen jumping around behind the blade-wielder, while the altercation intensified with swings and slashes exchanged between the parties.​

Three additional males soon joined the fray, one clad in a hooded sweatshirt with grey accents carrying a long-bladed weapon, which he swung towards a man in dark attire. The groups then chased each other through the car park, past a car wash, with chaos ensuing near a petrol pump where one fleeing individual stumbled and was struck, eliciting cries from bystanders.

Who Witnessed the Terrifying Scene?

Shoppers nearby were left horrified as the violence erupted in plain view. One onlooker shouted, “He’s been slashed!” after witnessing the stumble and strike near the petrol pump. Another bystander, reacting to the sight of a large weapon, exclaimed,

“He’s got a big kitchen knife. Oh my goodness. This is like something out of the Middle Ages.”​

A local resident, aged 49, provided his account to Edinburgh Live reporters:

“Suddenly, it all just exploded. I’m not sure if these were rival gangs or what, but this is not something you anticipate in broad daylight at your neighborhood supermarket.”

Coverage in the Daily Express noted that onlookers were left terrified as the two gangs became embroiled in the daylight brawl.

What Did Police Scotland Do?

Police Scotland responded swiftly to reports of the disturbance. As stated directly to Mirror journalists:

“Officers, including specialised firearms teams, attended and a search was carried out however the males were not traced.”

The force confirmed no injuries were reported and emphasised that extensive investigations are underway.

The public appeal included:

“Anyone with information or concerns is urged to contact police by dialling 101 and quoting incident number 2488 from Wednesday, February 25, 2026.”

Daily Express reporting echoed this, highlighting the deployment of firearms units but the failure to apprehend suspects on site.

Why Did This Gang Fight Erupt at Asda?

The precise trigger for the clash remains unclear amid ongoing investigations, though the video suggests a spontaneous escalation between rival masked groups. Mirror coverage described it as a “gang war,” with participants clearly prepared with batons and blades, pointing to premeditation or territorial disputes common in youth violence.​

As per the footage detailed in multiple outlets, the fight began with direct confrontations and rapidly devolved into chases, underscoring the volatility of such encounters in public spaces. No specific gang affiliations were named in immediate reports, but the face coverings and weaponry align with patterns seen in Edinburgh’s youth disturbances.

Were There Any Injuries Reported?

Fortunately, Police Scotland confirmed that there have been no reported injuries from the incident. Despite the visible slashes and swings in the video, including the moment a man was struck after stumbling, medical attention was not required, according to official statements.

This outcome was reiterated in the force’s communication to the Mirror: “Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries.” Shoppers escaped unscathed, though the psychological impact on witnesses remains evident from their shocked exclamations.​

How Is This Linked to Edinburgh’s Gang Issues?

This Asda incident fits into a broader pattern of youth gang violence in Edinburgh, where bladed weapons have appeared in multiple public clashes. For context, earlier in January 2026, two teens aged 17 and 15 were charged after a bladed weapons report in the city centre on Rose Street, with Police Scotland deploying firearms officers but reporting no injuries.

In October 2025, BBC Scotland covered a gang openly brandishing knives near the Scott Monument on Princes Street, where businessman Jay-J McLeod-Bain described being caught between six masked men waving “large knives” while shouting, managing to film from a safe distance after fleeing. He told BBC reporters:

“They were racing around the streets, shouting and brandishing their weapons, some held high and fully visible.”​

Additionally, ongoing gang wars linked to figures like Ross McGill and the Lyons family have involved machete attacks and firebombings, as reported by the Daily Record in late February 2026 coverage under the Portaledge investigation, leading to over 60 arrests. These elements highlight rising concerns over youth violence, drugs, and gang culture in Scotland, as explored in criminologist Ross Deuchar’s research published in the Law Society of Scotland journal.

What Has Been the Public Reaction?

Social media erupted with the video, shared widely via Mirror’s platforms on Facebook, amplifying public outrage. Comments decried the brazen daylight violence, with one Facebook user labelling the masked fighters as “cowards” in response to Edinburgh Live’s post.

The resident’s shock to Edinburgh Live encapsulates broader sentiment: such events are unexpected in everyday settings like supermarkets. Coverage across Mirror, Express, and social channels underscores demands for stronger police action amid fears for public safety.

When and Where Exactly Did It Occur?

The precise timing was approximately 4:20 PM on February 25, 2026, at The Jewel Asda car park, a popular shopping spot in Edinburgh. The video ends with fighters fleeing past the car wash, confirming the supermarket vicinity.

This location’s accessibility heightened the terror for families and shoppers present during the evening rush.​

Who Are the Suspects Involved?

Descriptions from the video include masked youths: one with a black baton, another with a sharp blade, a grey-clad jumper, and a hooded figure with a long blade. No names or ages have been released, as suspects evaded capture.​

Police searches yielded no traces, leaving identities subject to ongoing enquiries.​

What Measures Are Police Taking Next?

Investigations continue extensively, with Police Scotland urging tips via 101, incident 2488. Firearms teams’ involvement signals the perceived threat level, mirroring responses in prior city centre incidents.

Broader efforts, like informant incentives in gang wars reported by the Daily Record, aim to curb violence linked to groups such as those under Ross McGill.​

Could This Happen Again in Edinburgh?

The recurrence of bladed clashes—from city centre to car parks—raises alarms, with no injuries this time but potential for worse. Criminological insights from Ross Deuchar advocate supportive court approaches for affected youth amid Scotland’s gang epidemic.

Public vigilance and police appeals remain key to prevention, as Edinburgh grapples with these persistent threats.​