Adelaide youth gang violence spike prompts major police Operation Meld

A spate of violent stabbings involving feuding youth gangs has sparked a major police operation, with Sudanese community leaders admitting it’s a race against time to help the wayward teens.

Police are boosting the size of an operation targeting feuding youth gangs of Sudanese heritage in Adelaide’s northern and western suburbs to stem their violent interactions.

An investigation by The Advertiser has revealed there are two main groups of youths currently feuding – with at least six serious stabbings and violent brawls linked to them.

A significant number of robberies, assaults and some drug trafficking offences have been committed by the youths over the past seven months.

In the latest incident 10 days ago a youth was stabbed in the chest several times in Clubhouse Lane, off Hindley St in the city, and spent a week in a critical condition in intensive care at Royal Adelaide Hospital.

The escalation in violence has prompted senior police to place additional officers into Operation Meld, which was launched last July to combat the criminal activities of the groups.

Senior police have enlisted the help of Sudanese community leaders after receiving intelligence gang members are attempting to source firearms to use against rivals. One youth was caught with shotgun shells.

The two gangs – calling themselves 051 and KBS – are concentrated in suburbs including Munno Para, Andrews Farm, Craigmore, Kilburn, Athol Park and around the Port Adelaide area but their violent confrontations have been increasing in the city with three serious stabbings since November.

A third, smaller group called Finesse is also active.

Assistant Commissioner Scott Duval said the operation was launched following a series of robberies and assaults by youths armed with knives.

“There is a group of probably over 20 who are the primary ones we are looking at as regularly featuring. There have been a number of apprehensions, so the group size will vary depending on the level of intervention,’’ he said.

“They are predominantly children. It is a group of children who come together for whatever reason, mostly to commit crime.

The escalation in violence has prompted senior police to place additional officers into Operation Meld, to tackle youth gang violence.

“There have been incidents where they have targeted retail stores using their sheer numbers to commit theft and if confronted they will absolutely challenge and then it can turn quite serious.

He said the increase in manpower for Operation Meld – which currently has five officers – was in response to the recent stabbings to provide “a more focused effort’’ on the activities of the groups.

“The criminality is serious and concerning, there is no doubt about that. Anytime knives are used in any serious assault there is a high risk of fatality,’’ he said.

“The seriousness in which we are taking this is indicative of the level of offending and criminality involved.’’

In some of the incidents the group members have also targeted those selling goods on social media platforms – such as a car or jewellery – and set them up. At an arranged meeting the seller is confronted by the group who demand the goods and steal them.

In the past week there have been three such incidents involving sales of an iPhone and two laptops. In two cases gang members fled without paying.

The ages of gang members is predominantly between 16 and 18 years. Some are not attending school.

Offenders have been charged with offences including aggravated affray, robbery, aggravated assault with intent and drug trafficking.

A member of 051 group in Adelaide.

The largest youth gang calls itself 051.

The largest group calls itself 051 and has a core membership of 20 to 30 youths but this fluctuates to higher numbers at times. Its members are of south Sudanese heritage who predominantly live in the Munno Para, Craigburn and Andrews Farm areas.

The two other smaller groups are known and KBS – Killa Block Squad – and Finesse. KBS is comprised of youths of Sudanese, Liberian and Somalian heritage while Finesse comprises older youths and some young adults. All groups are active on social media platforms.

SAPOL’s African community constables have been heavily involved in community forums and engaging with the families of the youths involved in committing offences.

“I would not be critical at all of any of these families or the community, they have been very supportive, very positive,” Mr Duval said.

“Every so often children veer off in the wrong direction and much of the community engagement is about steering them back in the right direction. The fact there are still offences occurring would say it has not been completely successful, but there are positives.’’