Twin Cities Agencies Join Forces Against Somali Gang Violence

Agencies are teaming up, targeting Somali gang violence

following several shootings in the Twin Cities. Mike Tobin has more.

I'll tell you what, Mike, Minnesota's in the news a lot more than

they'd like to

be.

And you know, Dana, we're seeing more of local law enforcement

agencies joining

forces with their federal counterparts.

And as you mentioned, that's just what's happening in Minnesota

of all places, in

the face of these glaring examples of Somali gang violence.

The ATF, FBI, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal

Investigations are now working with

some 46 different law enforcement agencies.

That partnership was just announced this week.

And this follows a strings of shootings linked to Somali gangs, including

one outside a high school football, uh, homecoming game in the Minneapolis

suburbs.

Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher has been active with law enforcement in the

Minnesota Somali community for years.

He says the Somali gangs break down to roughly 300 members in

13 gangs, and he says the problem can be managed now

that leaders

in the Twin Cities are willing to admit there's a problem.

Here's the thing that I'm most pleased about.

We're out of the denial phase.

This is a small group of individuals in a, of a large community,

100,000 plus community, and, and again, we have good statistics

working this problem for a year and a half.

There's only 300 kids that are really involved in this activity.

Now deep in the political season, the issue does not escape the campaign.

Republican nominee Michelle Tafoya blamed the problem on her Democrat opponent

Plenty- Peggy Flanagan, who has been serving as lieutenant

governor.