A crime gang known as “The A Team” are being linked by police to a spate of shootings in Salford .

And the M.E.N can reveal that since the trouble started, 12 civil injunctions - also known as ‘gangbos’ - have been issued against individuals banning them from certain parts of the city.

The gang, based in the Duchy, Irlams o’ th’ Heights, and Weaste, are suspected of being involved in up to five recent firearms incidents in the city.

READ MORE: Can Salford learn lessons about tackling gun crime from Moss Side?

A feud between gangs based in Swinton and Salford Central is behind the violence which includes the murder of Paul Massey in July and the shooting of seven-year-old Christian Hickey, and his mum, Jayne, 29, on their doorstep in Winton, Eccles this month.

It is not known if police are specifically linking these shootings to the 'A-Team'.

However, the group are thought to be linked to a grenade attack on a house in Duchy in March , and the shooting of a man at a car wash in Ashton-in-Makerfield , fifteen hours later, who survived.

An incident in February in which two men suffered shotgun wounds in Irlams o’ th’ Height and a vicious machete attack on a man in Pendlebury in March and the shooting in the hip of a man in Normanton Avenue, Weaste , in August are also linked.

Previous success with injunctions

Injunctions have been issued against organised crime gangs in Greater Manchester in the past and were used successfully to curb attacks in Salford in 2009 after six shootings in 18 days in the city during a gang dispute.

Handed out at Manchester County Court they prevent suspected gang members from associating with each other and ban them from certain areas for a fixed period of time. If the conditions are breached those under the orders can be jailed.

A number of gangs are believed to be operating within Salford.

The shooting of Mr Massey and the boy and mum have been linked to a feud between two gangs particular gangs which started about a year a go and is separate from another war between two gangs in the Little Hulton area of the city.

The root cause of the Swinton and Salford spat is a ‘disrespect incident’ but police are still investigating the precise details.

Asked if the ‘A Team’ were under investigation, a spokesman from GMP said: “A organised crime gang who refer to themselves as the A Team are part of our enquiries.”

He added: “We have issued 12 injunctions in relation to these recent disputes.”

Progress

The hunt for the gunman responsible for shooting Christian and his mum is making progress but officers have been disappointed by the response so far from the public for information.

Chief Supt Mary Doyle, head of Salford Police, said: “The investigation is continuing. It is part of a larger on-going investigation.

“There are people out there who know who has done this, know where the guns are, and who all the other players are - tell us.

“There is an element of worry as to whether we are going to be able to protect confidentiality. I like to reassure people that we absolutely can, and we can act on information that is confidential.

“They are notoriously difficult to prove these sorts of offences - we rely heavily on intelligence - that includes members of the public.

“It is linked to the normal criminality around drugs and firearms but a lot of it is around respect and disrespect - low level feuds and arguments. The level of criminality we see does not reflect the level of argument.

“It is difficult to define what a gang is. There are core members and then those affiliated to each side.”

She vowed police ‘would not stop’ until the gunmen were brought to justice.

Gun used to shoot boy and his mum had already injured others

The gun used to shoot a seven-year-old boy and his mum had already injured others.

As revealed in the MEN the weapon fired at Christian Hickey, and his mother, Jayne, is believed to have been used in eight other shootings in the north west - including one other in Salford.

But GMP have now confirmed the gun has been used to inflict injuries on other people.

Christan was shot in the left thigh and his mother blasted twice - above each knee in the attack at their home in Gillingham Road, Winton, Eccles.

Both face several weeks in hospital.

Police are hoping the bullets removed from them will lead them to the gunman.

The gunman arrived at their home at 9.25pm on Monday October 12th.

An accomplice knocked on the door and asked Mrs Hickey if her husband, Christian senior, was in.

After a brief exchange of words the gunman shot her and her son.

The first offender is described as white, between 19 and 20-years-old, of ‘chunky’ build and was wearing a baseball cap. He spoke slowly and with a Salford accent. The second man is described as white and was also wearing a baseball cap.

A dedicated information hotline has been set up on 0161 856 9775, or people can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111

Armed police swoop on Fitzwarren Court flats in Pendleton in organised crime operation

Armed police swooped on a block of flats as part of an operation to disrupt serious and organised crime.

Officers with firearms were sent to Fitzwarren Court in Pendleton, Salford, under Operation Gulf, which aims to tackle organised crime and disrupt gang activity across Greater Manchester. Several flats were searched, but no arrests were made.

Tactical Aid Unit officers accompanied armed police at the scene off Rosehill Close from midday yesterday. Police said enquiries were continuing.

The flats, run by social housing provider Salix Homes, remained open. Representatives from Salix were also at the scene.

A police spokesman said: “Officers in Salford, including a number of armed officers, searched a number of premises on Rosehill Close, Pendleton, as part of ongoing work to tackle organised crime in Salford. No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing.”

Chief Supt Mary Doyle, head of Salford police, added: “I have 20 officers permanently attached to Operation Gulf - that has been the case since Gulf started.

“We have increased resources to focus on organised criminality.”