The Assistant Garda Commissioner, Peter Fitzgerald has described the latest escalation of violence in the Southill area of Limerick city as an 'extremely serious development'.
The Assistant Commissioner's comments came after shots were fired at a patrol car last weekend.
Weapons and ammunition were discovered in an intensive search operation following the incident.
Gardaí believe two criminal gangs in Southill are involved in a new feud.
The Assistant Garda Commissioner warned the gangs that they would not succeed in frightening off the gardaí by shooting at them.
