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Ricky Wilson / Stuff
Police maintain a presence near Bland Pl, Ōtara, after houses were fired on Friday and vehicles destroyed.
Armed police have a visible presence in Ōtara, south Auckland, the day after several houses were shot up and vehicles wrecked.
Tensions between the gangs are believed to have escalated on Friday, with several vehicles wrecked in front of a house on the corner of Capstick and Ivon Rds, which had apparently been shot multiple times.
The house is understood to be a base for the Tribesmen gang and a similar shooting occurred near the corner of Bairds and Otara Rds.
A witness said they heard several pops “like a firecracker” and the smashing of cars around 5pm.
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A damaged car at the corner of Capstick and Ivon Rds on Friday after a house was apparently shot at.
On Saturday, armed police officers could be seen guarding two cordoned off houses in the suburb.
One of the houses was near Bland Pl and the other was on Capstick Rd.
A Things The visual journalist said police with clipboards could be seen walking near one of these addresses around 11 a.m.
A police spokeswoman said Counties Manukau officers had responded on Friday to reports of three reported incidents in which firearms were fired and a fourth incident in which firearms were presented.
“While no one was injured, the police recognize that this type of incident is of concern to our community and we take these reports very seriously and are investigating.”
He said initial indications were that the incidents, which occurred between 4.50 pm and 5 pm, may be related.
“Examinations of the scene are underway and there will be an increased police presence in Ōtara.”
Alf Filipaina, a Manukau district councilor, said Friday’s incident was “quite high” and that he was “definitely concerned.”
Ricky Wilson / Stuff
Police with clipboards could be seen walking near an address around 11 a.m. Saturday.
Filipaina said that as a result of the events she had been thinking “where do we go from here?
“We can bring the community together to come together and try to address the situation, but we have done that in the past.”
After hundreds of people attended a community hui on gun violence in May last year, Filipaina felt that there had been no traction on what had been discussed since.
“The violence over the past year in the South Auckland area is shocking, very worrying.”
Ricky Wilson / Stuff
Armed police returned to Capstick Rd, Ōtara, on Saturday morning.
He said that after speaking with community leaders, he “seriously believed” that the government needed to be brought in to provide funding for social workers.
“The Government is in a position to address the situation. Social workers is the place to go. “
Filipaina said social workers who know the area should be on the ground interacting with young people who show tendencies to drift into gangs.
“I’m sounding like a broken record. We just want to get to the point where there is assistance, ”he said.
“But at least we need to have the korero, the talanoa to implement something.”
Local MP Jenny Salesa has been contacted for comment.
Anyone with information can contact the police at 105 and quote file number 201121/6920 or Crimestoppers anonymously at 0800555111.
