A turf war in Craig Town, Kingston, has reportedly led to a wave of violence in the area.

Head of the Kingston Western Police Division, Senior Superintendent Michael Phipps, said rival factions from two gangs have been clashing, leaving the community unstable.

The situation has forced the police to institute a 48-hour curfew in the community. The curfew began Sunday night following a double murder earlier that day.

The boundaries of the curfew are as follows:

• NORTH: From the intersection of Beresford and Benbow Street, travel east to Baker Street, and continue along an imaginary line to Slipe Pen Road.
• EAST: From Slipe Pen Road to Gordon Road.
• WEST: From the intersection of Pouyatt Street and Brynes Street to Penn Street, continue along an imaginary line to Benbow Street.
• SOUTH: Along Gordon Road to the gully, then continue along an imaginary line to Pouyatt Street and Brynes Street.

“The Gaza and the 110 gangs are fighting for control of the space. Both leaders of the gangs are based overseas, but persons on the ground are engaged in a tit-for-tat situation,” SSP Phipps told Observer Online.

He said the infighting has led to several shooting incidents, the most recent being Sunday’s double murder.

On Monday, the police released the names of several men who were named as persons of interest in the community. These men were asked to report to the Denham Town CIB by midday Tuesday.

The police said intelligence suggests that there is a likelihood of an increase in gang violence in the area as members of the gangs involved are planning to launch reprisal attacks against other warring factions.

“So we will continue to conduct robust activities targeting the persons of interest and those otherwise wanted in this area,” Phipps said.