Police fear Melbourne shootings are the result of escalating bikie violence
Updated
Police believe two shootings in Melbourne's south-east are the result of escalating tensions between rival bike gangs.
A tattoo parlour was sprayed with bullets in Dandenong just after four o'clock this morning.
Two hours later, an employee arrived at a gym, in the nearby suburb of Hallam, to find bullets had been fired into the business.
Makeshift bombs had also been thrown through the front window but they were not detonated.
The two businesses have connections to the leader of the Comancheros' Hallam chapter.
Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police, Stephen Fontana, says the attacks were launched by members of the Hells Angels gang, who were using high-powered, military-style weapons.
"We're really concerned about the escalating violence between OMCGs (Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs)," he said.
"We believe that the weapons used in this particular attack are also linked to attacks at Clayton South and other premises in Dandenong over the last couple of weeks."
Mr Fontana says, unless the attacks stop, it is only matter of time before someone is killed.
"Not only the people who may be the target of these attacks but also innocent bystanders," he said.
"The events have occurred in public places and the number of shots fired on occasions have been indiscriminate."
Police are investigating if the attacks are connected to another shooting on the Mornington Peninsula, south of Melbourne, yesterday.
Bomb squad police are examining two makeshift explosive devices that have been thrown into a gym in Melbourne's outer south-east.
The petrol containers were discovered when a staff member turned up for work this morning and found the Hallam gym had been sprayed with bullets.
The business and properties near the gym have been evacuated and the Princes Highway between Belgrave-Hallam Road and the South Gippsland freeway had been closed.
It is believed the property is run by members of the Comancheros bikie gang, which has a local chapter in Hallam.
Police are investigating if the incident is linked to another shooting at a tattoo parlour in nearby Dandenong this morning.
Bullets were fired at the business around four o'clock.
A man who lives near the tattoo parlour says the gun shots woke him up.
"Six or five times, bang, bang, bang, bang, so I just woke up and went to my kids home to check my wife too, they were sleeping," he said.
"Then I just opened up the window to see what was going on but I couldn't see anything."
No one has been injured.
Police are investigating whether outlaw motorcycle gangs are involved.
