http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Liverpools-Rival-Gangs-Using-Bombs-In-Street-Battles-Footage-Passed-To-Sky-Shows-IEDs/Article/200812315184489?lpos=UK_News_News_Your_Way_Region_1&lid=NewsYGang Shows Off Bombs
3:49pm UK, Wednesday December 17, 2008
Tom Parmenter, North of England correspondent, EXCLUSIVE
The gangs involved in the shooting of Rhys Jones claim they have access to crude bombs and lethal weapons - and they are prepared to use them in their street battles.
Liverpool gangs
Bombs signal a dangerous new side of the gang activity in Liverpool
The Norris Green Strand Gang has passed exclusive footage to Sky News showing a device, and the explosion it creates outside a derelict home.
Gang members have told Sky they have had a number of these improvised explosive devices (IEDs) commissioned.
They now plan to use them in their battle with gang rivals, the Croxteth Crew.
Liverpool Gangs Making Their Own Bombs
During the 12-week-long murder trial at Liverpool Crown Court the gangs' arsenal was discussed - these IEDs were part of courtroom discussions.
Sean Mercer - a member of the Croxteth Crew - is starting his sentence today for the shooting murder of 11-year-old Rhys.
Sky News has also been given footage of a terrifying array of weapons including tripod-mounted machine guns that the gangs have filmed and claim to have access to.
Firearms consultant David Dyson said that if the weapons were not deactivated, then "these are proper military machine guns of absolutely lethal potential and clearly very, very dangerous weapons".
"It appears they have access to them and the weapons themselves were certainly viable at one time," he added.
There is no doubt the explosives are a world away from the kind of bombs used by terrorist organisations.
However, they are a clear signal of a dangerous new side of the gang activity in north Liverpool.
