Gang man shot in burst of violence

Armed officers prepare to take into custody one of the 10 people arrested. Photo / Otago Daily Times

A senior Black Power member was shot in the arm during an eruption of gang violence with the Mongrel Mob in Dunedin yesterday afternoon - an incident that led to 10 arrests.

Police swooped on the suburb of Liberton about 4pm after a number of 111 calls to report the gangs fighting.

Inspector Alastair Dickie said last night that police arrested 10 men and charged them with unlawful assembly. More charges were likely.

Armed police were guarding two properties and Dunedin Hospital last night.

Five of the arrested men were Black Power gang members and the remainder were linked to the Mongrel Mob, Mr Dickie said.

The men were being held in custody to ensure there was no further escalation around the city, he said.

"We needed to act quickly to keep the peace and limit any damage or threat to the safety of the public," Mr Dickie said.

One of those involved in the confrontation - a senior Black Power member - was driven to Dunedin Hospital after being shot.

Mr Dickie said a 44-year-old Dunedin man was having surgery last night to repair nerve damage to his right arm.

Police believe a small-calibre rifle was used in the shooting, and a second weapon was allegedly used to damage a gang vehicle at the property - an incident which had further inflamed the situation, Mr Dickie said.

A white Subaru with a smashed front window remained parked outside of the property yesterday.

Police, including the armed offenders squad, began searching city streets for the occupants of two vehicles allegedly involved in the incident.

It has been two years since gang violence erupted in the city, when more than a dozen gang members were arrested and charged with a range of offences.

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES