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Three new rival crime gangs are behind multiple shootings and violent assaults - including on schoolchildren - that have left Birmingham communities living in fear.

And the Birmingham Mail can today reveal how the Frankley Killers and the 61 and 247365 gangs are using YouTube grime videos to make coded threats to each other, including boasting about stabbings and shootings.

Communities in Northfield i n south Birmingham have been left terrorised by the escalating violent attacks, which have included five firearms incidents in recent weeks.

A new shooting took place in Bartley Green on Sunday, when a man was hit in the arm. He survived and police are seeking three men.

It is unclear if that shooting is connected to the three gangs, but they have been involved in multiple violent incidents since the start of the year.

And on Sunday, an unrelated incident saw up to 20 youths clash in the Weoley Castle Road/Castle Square area of Weoley Castle at around 6.35pm.

Police said a 16-year-old was arrested after a shotgun was spotted during the mass brawl. He was later bailed.

One community source said: “These emerging gangs seems like the biggest issue facing Birmingham today. They are running wild, they are feral.

“Children are randomly being attacked, including being punched in the face. Parents are rightly scared about letting them out at night.”

Earlier this year Colmers High School warned parents not to allow their kids out at night after a pupil was stabbed when 20 youths went on the rampage.

The teenage victim escaped serious injury in the incident, which had also seen a shopkeeper and cyclist attacked.

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Colmers headteacher Barry Doherty sent a letter to parents warning: “I ask that you prevent your children from being in a public place during the hours of darkness.”

In a follow up letter, he wrote that meetings were planned “with community representatives and local schools to explore issues relating to students’ safety in the local and wider neighbourhoods.”

But the violence has continued and the gangs have been linked to five shooting incidents in the Northfield area in recent weeks.

It is not believed anyone was seriously injured, but guns were brandished or discharged.

Most of the violence has been gang on gang, but innocent schoolchildren have also been attacked.

The gang members are known to have targeted passing kids and physically assaulted them, including punching them in the face.

Some attacks are understood to have been filmed on mobile phones.

Grime music and social media has also been used by the gangs to make threats to each other.

Videos have appeared on YouTube where gang members are seen masked and making gun signs.

The lyrics of the songs are also said to carry coded threats, including a reference to ‘44’ being short for 44 calibre revolver.

In one glossy video called Trapline Jump, hooded youths with their faces covered are seen at night on the streets of Birmingham.

A police car is featured in one shot during the slickly-filmed video, which has attracted almost 50,000 hits.

It is understood members of the 61 gang were involved in Trapline Jump, which included threats to the Frankley Killers.

The gangs are known to be involved in drug dealing including selling Class A drugs heroin and cocaine and Class B cannabis, and turf wars.

They are also suspected of being involved in child sexual exploitation.

One community source said: “They’re roaming around like feral animals and they must be having sex. And they won’t care who they’re having sex with.”

West Midlands Police has held meetings with members of the Northfield community, who have stated how much the gang presence and criminality is affecting them.

A community source said: “People have been telling police they are afraid for their children.

“This is not just a situation of gangs fighting between themselves and not involving other, innocent people.

“People feel if they happen to be in the wrong place, they could get caught up in what’s happening.

“There are people who are afraid and there are parents who are afraid for their children. I don’t think people feel safe.”

We contacted West Midlands Police for comment. It said it would provide a statement tomorrow.

WHAT WEST MIDLANDS POLICE SAID

Birmingham Police Superintendent Mat Shaer said: “We’ve got officers and staff working around the clock to close in on those gangs who bring fear to our communities.

"Our efforts continue to disrupt those networks, take their weapons away and ultimately get them punished for the criminal activities they think they can carry out with impunity.

“For example on Friday, 19-year-old Marcel Mullings-Boyd, of Out Wood Drive, Northfield, is due to be sentenced after pleading guilty to possessing a handgun and cannabis production.

“In other separate matters, a number of youths remain on bail after allegedly taking part in a video distributed on a video-sharing site. The footage – as well as seemingly glorifying gang violence – also refers to specific incidents of violence and contains threats to rival gangs.

“There is no let-up in our approach to tackle violent crime if we are to prevent serious injuries and if we are to reassure the people of Birmingham.

“The on-going deterrent work continues together with our partner agencies, charities and the community, which is a crucial part of our long-term plan to tackle violent crime.

“The public are our eyes and ears and I would appeal directly to the communities of Birmingham - please, contact us with any information you have about those committing violent crime and gang activity in our city.”

*Have you been affected by gang violence? If so, email jeanette.oldham@trinitymirror.com