Armed police arrest more young gang members

Six more Auckland youths have been arrested in early morning raids by police who say youth violence will not be tolerated.

Armed police executed warrants in the south Auckland suburbs of Flat Bush and Mangere yesterday.

One of the six was charged with attempted murder, police said in a statement.

Detective Senior Sergeant Sue Schwalger said 30 young people had now been arrested and it sent a clear message the police and the community would not tolerate gang violence.

"The charges these youths are facing range from wounding through to attempted murder," she said.

One was due in Manukau Youth Court today and the rest were due to in Manukau District Court.

The arrests were part of a police crackdown on violent young gangs after a Labour Weekend of violence which left two teenagers in hospital and a man dead. One of the teenagers was badly hurt.

The dead man's son, a youth gang member, faces two charges of attempted murder and one of wounding after a teenager was left badly hurt and paralysed in hospital from an attack the weekend before.

- NZPA