A man has been shot dead in Wood Green in the midst of a turf war between rival gangs in Haringey.

The murder of 22-year-old Andre Linton, of Tottenham, on Saturday, marks the first killing since an escalation of violence between two groups of youths in Haringey.

In the last eight weeks, 20 incidents of violent disorder have been recorded most involving guns or knives.

Mr Linton was shot at close range after his car was surrounded by up to six black youths in Buller Road just before 11pm. The gang ran off towards Redvers Road.

The attacks have also included the shooting of a 17-year-old outside the Broadwater Farm Community Centre, three shootings on April 22, and a hit-and-run incident in High Road, Wood Green, involving eight-year-old Rene McLarty-Brown, on March 19.

It was revealed this week that the collision, which nearly cost Rene her life, happened when the car being driven by a gang fleeing from the scene of a violent incident mounted the pavement and hit the schoolgirl.

Rene's father Andrew Brown joined Haringey Peace Alliance chairman Pastor Nims Obunge and Detective Superintendent Stephen Clark in pleading with Haringey communities to come forward with information on Wednesday.

Det Supt Clark said there had been a 33 per cent jump in gun crime in the past two months. He added: "We have two loosely associated groups who are committing acts of tit-for-tat violence on each other, and unfortunately Rene got caught up in one of these incidents.

"It is very difficult to get into their ethos, because there doesn't seem to be a common purpose. This is where we look for support from the community, as I am convinced they know what is happening."

Pastor Obunge, who has spoken out against gun crime since the Peace Alliance was set up four years ago, added: "We don't want another innocent victim caught up in a mistake.

"If anyone in the community knows of an incident about to take place, they should tell us we could save lives.

"I feel there is a present risk of more violence in the community and the only way we can deal with this is if we don't sit on the sidelines."

The murder of Mr Linton is being investigated by Operation Trident which investigates gun crime in black communities while Haringey police continue to probe the gang-related incidents.

If you have any information, call Operation Trident on 020 8733 4642 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.