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NSW: Two injured, homes damaged in latest Sydney shooting

By Stephanie Gardiner
22 Mar 2009 4:07 PM

SYDNEY, March 22 AAP - Police are probing possible gangland links after another Sydney shooting in which two people were injured and several houses damaged.

They say there are "tenuous" connections with an outlaw motorcycle gang in the latest shooting - Sydney's third in less than a week - in the western suburb of Auburn.

A fusillade of shots was fired outside a number of houses before 1am (AEDT) on Sunday, damaging seven.

The area around Cumberland Road, Pine Avenue and West Street was put in lockdown while investigators searched for clues.

An 18-year-old man suffered a gunshot wound to his leg and was taken to Westmead Hospital, where he remains in a stable condition.

A 17-year-old was treated for lacerations at Auburn Hospital before being arrested.

He was later released without charge.

Police are still trying to establish how the teenagers might have been connected to the incident.

Detective Inspector Gary Jubelin, from the State Crime Command Gangs Squad, said the investigation was focused on whether the shooting was linked to organised crime.

"With this matter there's a tenuous, and I put it at the highest level as a tenuous link to outlaw motorcycle gangs," Det Insp Jubelin told reporters in Sydney.

"We are exploring that option but that is not necessarily what this incident was in relation to."

He said it was unlikely that the seven houses were deliberately targeted.

The latest shooting occurred after six people, including a baby, escaped injury when shots were fired at a property in Indigo Way, Prospect, in Sydney's west, on Thursday.

Minutes earlier, two adults inside a Taworri Street home at nearby Doonside also escaped injury when the property was sprayed with gunfire.

Det Insp Jubelin said police had yet to establish whether the shootings were connected.

"We are exploring all options and those options include the previous shootings that have occurred and any links to not only motorcycle gangs but any organised crime."

Police initially said the incident was a drive-by shooting but later Det Insp Jubelin would not confirm how the attack occurred.

Police seized two vehicles for forensic testing.

Det Insp Jubelin would not comment on the type of weapons used, who police suspect may have been involved or who their targets were.

Police Minister Tony Kelly said because of the recent shootings he would be consider tightening police powers for dealing with gangs.

"I will be meeting with the police commissioner and the attorney-general, looking at additional laws that we can bring into place to round these people up," Mr Kelly told reporters in Sydney.

"We're looking at all powers that are possible ... to try and get members of these outlaw motorcycle gangs or some of the other gangs as well."

Mr Kelly said the group would review South Australian legislation that allows government and police to outlaw particular gangs, whose members can be arrested if they congregate.