Police fear revenge attacks after alleged gang killing

Gisborne police are bracing themselves for revenge attacks between warring gangs as a man appears in court today charged with murder.

A 23-year-old man was charged with murder last night over the death of a 32-year-old Gisborne man in a city street early Wednesday morning.

The man's body was found outside the Irish Rover bar in the central business district about 3.15am, after what onlookers described as a clash between rival Mongrel Mob and Black Power gang members armed with various weapons.

The fight followed weeks of unease, during which police have barricaded bars because of fears of a gang confrontation.

Gisborne area commander Inspector Waata Shepherd said police had put "contingency plans" in place to try to prevent potential revenge attacks.

Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Scott said yesterday that police were looking for more people in relation to the incident.

The accused will appear in the Gisborne District Court today.

A post-mortem will be carried out later this today on the victim to confirm the cause of death but it was believed the man had been stabbed.

- NZPA