Police concern as first gun seized, first shot fired in violent gang war

Young criminals are increasingly arming themselves with firearms, with the first gun shots fired, in an alarming escalation of a street gang war.

Young criminals are increasingly arming themselves with firearms in an alarming escalation of Adelaide’s gang war involving people of African descent.

Police have caught a key target with a loaded sawn-off rifle and in the latest gang fight a gunshot was fired at close range – narrowly missing its intended target.

Senior police are concerned at the development, vowing to continue efforts to quell the ongoing tensions between rival street gangs 051 and Killa Block Squad, known as KBS.

Assistant Commissioner Scott Duval said the fact gang members had now acquired firearms “adds another element to the tension and the conflict.’’

“It would be wrong of me to say it is not concerning; it is concerning and absolutely it is an area we are putting a lot of attention to,’’ he said.

“The intelligence we have and from our own investigations is that yes, they have access to firearms. Are they prepared to use them? You wouldn’t know.

“There was an incident where a firearm was discharged but from our point of view the more of those illicit firearms we can get off the street the better.’’

On November 30 police seized the first firearm from a gang member when two 051 members, aged 17 and 18 years, were stopped at Bolivar. Their vehicle had been tracked by the police helicopter after initially being spotted speeding in the city.

When police searched the Kia sedan they discovered a sawn-off .22 rifle, ammunition, $6950 in cash suspected of being the proceeds of drug sales, methamphetamines and cocaine.

Police swarmed into Adelaide's CBD made several arrests after a man was stabbed to death on North Terrace. Picture: 7 News

The pair – the younger one a key police target in Operation Meld – are facing multiple charges that include possessing an unregistered firearm, possession of a firearm without a licence, breaching bail and contravening an intervention order. Both have been remanded in custody until appearing in court next week.

In the early hours last Sunday, just four days after the rifle was seized, a shot was fired during a confrontation between 051 and KBS members at an Airbnb premises at West Beach.

Mr Duval said no arrests had yet been made following ongoing investigations into that conflict which occurred when KBS gang members converged on the property being rented by numerous 051 members. An 051 member was stabbed.

“There is a fair level of lack of co-operation, that has been a constant with these groups,’’ he said.

The Advertiser in February revealed police had established Operation Meld in response to increased violence and criminal activity linked to gang members. There have been almost a dozen serious stabbings and violent brawls involving the rival gangs.

A significant number of robberies, assaults and deception-related incidents arising from interactions with the public on social media marketplace sites have also occurred.

A significant number of gang members are also involved in significant fraud activity, with the proceeds of those crimes now being used to finance drug trafficking operations, mostly involving the importation of small quantities of methamphetamines.

Since the operation started in July last year there have been 337 arrests and reports for offences including murder, breach of bail, deception, affray, assault, robbery, firearm offences, possession of weapons, illicit drug offences and behavioural offences.

In March a wild brawl between the gangs at the Nairobi Affair Lounge nightclub in the city resulted in one gang member having an arm almost severed when he was struck with a machete. Police have charged 19 people in connection with the incident.

Assistant Commissioner Scott Duval. Picture: David Mariuz

In April a knife fight in the CBD between gang members resulted in Melbourne man Ngor Bol, being fatally stabbed. Bol, 25, a gang member, travelled to Adelaide with other gang members before being fatally stabbed on North Tce. Three people have been charged with murder over the incident.

Mr Duval said the level of offending by gang members was still evident, ranging from serious assaults to criminal trespass.

“The operation will continue and still has some active investigations under way, and there are conflicts still occurring,’’ he said.

“The tensions are still there. From a public point of view, it is still very much between them, the serious assault type of offending.

“But there are other elements where members of the public are caught up in offences, where they do the social media type meet-to-buy.’’

Mr Duval said police believed the number of primary persons of interest in both gangs was “still in the high twenties’’ but there were always other associates “hanging around with gang members.’’

Members of 051 are predominantly of south Sudanese heritage who mainly live in the Munno Para, Craigmore and Andrews Farm areas. KBS is comprised of youths of Sudanese, Liberian and Somalian heritage. All groups are active on social media platforms.

Police swarmed into Adelaide's CBD made several arrests after a man was stabbed to death on North Terrace. Picture: 7 News

“The fact of youth crime and, in particular, youth gang-related activity is something that may not go away in the near future,’’ he said.

“Really the involvement of an operation like Meld, it may change its name but it wouldn’t change its form in what we are seeking to do, which is to disrupt and detect this type of criminal activity.

“We will be keeping the investigative pressure on, we will be maintaining our focus very heavily on this offending which is very serious.’’

As part of Operation Meld, police have been working closely with Sudanese community leaders and the parents of younger gang members to divert them away from such activity.

“Their involvement is critical to this,’’ Mr Duval said.

“It is to divert these youths away from criminal offending to something more community based.’’

Anyone with any information on illegal activity by gang members is urged to contact crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.