Police have not ruled out the involvement of past members or factions of the Rebels motorcycle gang in a clubhouse drive-by shooting in Darwin.
A white utility vehicle drove onto the clubhouse premises at Darwin River in the early hours of Saturday and opened fire on the building with three shotgun blasts, Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Stringer said on Monday.
"They've driven onto the property and shot the place up from close range," he told the ABC, noting that all three shots hit the building and smashed a car window, and that at least one Rebels member was present on-site.
Later on Saturday police raided a house in Palmerston where they seized a 12-gauge shotgun, a 22 lever action rifle, some ecstasy tablets and a trafficable quantity of the drug ice.
No charges have yet been laid and the identity of the shooter is still unknown, Det Sen Sgt Stringer said.
It's not clear if the attack is part of a turf war.
"We're looking at rival criminal gangs, and factions within the Rebels and past members," he said.
The Rebels have been present in the NT for about five years full-time, he said, and recently there has been an escalating pattern of behaviour beginning with the theft last month of Rebels vests worth $15,000.
Outlaw motorcycle gangs have been recruiting locally, and Det Sen Sgt Stringer said people were motivated by "a misguided sense of wanting to be an outlaw, or to be seen as an outlaw".
"(For) others it's just blatant criminality; obviously if you're a criminal or a drug dealer your standing in the criminal world is greatly elevated if you're a member of one of these gangs."
He urged anyone approached or considering joining a gang not to do it.
"They will regret their decision, as most people who get involved with these gangs regret the outcome. And if they are genuine motorcycle enthusiasts there are decent social motorcycle clubs in Darwin they could join instead."
Police are urging the shooter to hand themselves in, and for anyone with any information to call Crime Stoppers.
