Cops probe biker war's link to report of gunshots

Police rushed to an east Winnipeg neighbourhood early Thursday after reports of shots being fired, and police are investigating whether it has any ties to the biker feud in the city.

Officers were called about 4:50 a.m. to the area of Simpson and Moncton avenues in East Kildonan, police said. So far, there is no evidence shots were actually fired, police said.

Recent tensions between the Rock Machine and the Hells Angels-affiliated Redlined Support Crew saw more than a dozen shootings and firebombings over a one-month period. Although the conflict has not been in the spotlight for nearly a week — roughly since the arrests of two men with ties to the Rock Machine — police acknowledge the public has a heightened awareness every time shots are fired.

“Until we can decisively say it’s not linked, that’s something we’ll need to explore,” said Const. Natalie Aitken, a Winnipeg police spokeswoman.

No arrests have been made.