AN EAST Lothian man has appeared in court charged with attempted murder.

Damien Mullen, 23, was one of six who appeared in private on petition at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday (Wednesday) following a series of arrests made in Cockenzie, Edinburgh and Gorebridge earlier in the week.

Mullen faces a total of nine charges: one of attempted murder and eight of wilful fireraising.

Also appearing was Michael Heeps, 32, from Edinburgh, who faces a total of 21 charges, including attempted murder, wilful fireraising, attempted fireraising, theft by housebreaking and theft of a vehicle, behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, possession of an offensive weapon and possession of an item with a blade or point in a public place.

Lee Ridgway, 30, from Edinburgh, also faces 21 charges, including attempted murder, wilful fireraising, attempted fireraising, theft by housebreaking and theft of a vehicle, behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, possession of an offensive weapon and possession of an item with a blade or point in a public place.

John Murray, 23, from Edinburgh, faces seven charges, including attempted murder, wilful fireraising, theft by housebreaking and theft of a vehicle, behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, and possession of an offensive weapon.

Dale Bauld, 30, from Edinburgh, faces four charges, including attempted murder, behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, possession of an item with a blade or point in a public place, and reset.

A 16-year-old male youth from Edinburgh, who cannot be named for legal reasons, faces 11 charges, including attempted murder, wilful fireraising, attempted fireraising, theft by housebreaking and theft of a vehicle, behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, possession of an offensive weapon and possession of an item with a blade or point in a public place.

All six accused made no plea when they appeared at court.

They were all remanded in custody and are due to appear again within eight days.

The charges follow three alleged attempted murders in Dalkeith and Edinburgh in December and January and an alleged fireraising at HMP Addiewell's car park in West Lothian.