There were two serious assaults in Hawke’s Bay overnight. (File photo)
Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi
A Gang Conflict Warrant is in place across Hawke’s Bay after two serious gang-related incidents overnight.
Four people were injured in the incidents, including two youths.
Police said the two young people had sustained “life threatening injuries” following a grievous assault on Omahu Road in Hastings at 2.20am on Friday.
Police were called to a serious assault on Riverbend Road in Napier at 9.30pm on Thursday where a firearm was reportedly discharged and two people were taken to hospital with moderate injuries.
“We will not stand for any behaviour that results in harm to members of our community,” Hawke’s Bay Area Prevention Manager Inspector Caroline Martin.
Extra police have been deployed to the region and Martin urged anyone with information on either case to come forward.
She also urged for a stop to “needless violence” before anyone else got hurt.
Omahu Road was closed early on Friday but re-opened following a police scene examination.
In a statement issued on Friday evening, police said a Gang Conflict Warrant was in place across Hawke’s Bay.
Inspector Dean Clifford said the warrant gave police special powers to search vehicles of suspected gang members, and to seize firearms, weapons, and vehicles.
“I hope the Gang Conflict Warrant will do two things,” he said.
“That it reassures the public that we are using every tool at our disposal in order to keep them safe, and that it sends a clear message to those involved in this violence that we will not accept it in our community.”
Police believe the assaults have links to the Mongrel Mob and Black Power gangs.
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