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It is one of the world's most feared gangs.

Mara Salvatrucha - also dubbed MS-13 - is known for its brutal murders , gang rape, drug trafficking and merciless revenge attacks.

Its members are typically distinguishable by their symbolic facial and body tattoos - as well as their use of their own hand signals.

They are expected to remain loyal to the ruthless gang, with "punishments" including the amputation of limbs and murder.

In one particularly horrific case, a pregnant gang member who had been a government informant was stabbed 16 times by two other members.

(Image: Reuters)

(Image: Getty)

Her body was found by a shocked fisherman on a river bank in 2003.

MS-13 - which has an alleged desire to be known as the "number one" gang globally for the "most murders" - originated in California.

However, it has since spread to other US states, as well as Mexico, Canada, South America and Central American nations like El Salvador.

Now, there are fears its members are expanding into other countries.

The gang, which is thought to have as many as 100,000 members worldwide, may have arrived in Australia, the Adelaide Advertiser reports.

(Image: Reuters) (Image: Getty)

Its symbol has reportedly been seen across Sydney, sparking fear among locals.

And gang members could spread to other nations.

One woman, who has recently moved to the area in Australia where MS-13's symbol has been spotted, said she "can't believe it".

"We have only just moved into the area," she told Daily Mail Australia .

"It sends shivers, this area is pretty mixed and a messy sort of street, and you get all sorts of people."

Although MS-13 originated in Los Angeles, its core membership reportedly came from El Salvador, known for its sun-kissed beaches.

(Image: Getty) (Image: Getty)

In 2015, we reported how the gang in so powerful in the country that members run the very prison in which they've been locked up .

The inmates - including murderers - rule Penas Ciudad Barrios, a mini-nation of 2,500 behind the walls of a prison building.

They have a bakery, workshops, hospital and rehab, but the guards stay out of the way, keeping what they can of the peace from outside the gates.

In 2013, the maximum security prisoners, housed in San Salvador, were captured by Adam Hinton, a photographer from London.

Hinton was given freedom to snap the prison and Las Victorias, the area of San Salvador which their families call home.

(Image: Getty)

The Mara Salvatrucha name comes from 'mara' - a Central American term for gang, 'salva' - which refers to El Salvador, and 'trucha', which means “trout” in English, ia slang term for “clever” or “sharp.”

The number 13, is the position M occupies in the alphabet.

As well sporting extensive tattoos on their bodies and faces, gang members use hand symbols referencing the devil to communicate.

One of the most widely publicised MS-13 crimes took place in Honduras in December 2004, when a bus was sprayed with automatic gunfire.

(Image: Getty)

The attack, which occurred just two days before Christmas Days, killed 28 civilian passengers, most of whom were women and children.

Reports said six gunmen raked the bus with gunfire.

As passengers screamed and ducked, another gunman then apparently climbed aboard and methodically executed passengers.

The killing was said to be in protest at plans to bring back the death penalty.