IT IS A city whose history is steeped in violence, from the razor gangs who stalked the 1920s to the gangsters who lurk in its dark underbelly.

Yet in recent decades Glasgow has managed to shake off its grim and dangerous image and emerge into the sunlight as a bright and bustling modern metropolis.

Crime rates have dropped, and police and politicians have been vocal about their successes in taming Scotland’s ‘wild west’ town.

But now a fresh wave of brutality has erupted on the streets, as a gang war between two rival clans piles up its victims with shootings, firebombings, stabbings and beatings.

Chillingly, the gunmen appear to have no qualms about innocent bystanders being caught up in their ‘hits’, with rivals executed at the wheels of their cars on busy roads or targeted on streets thronged with children outside primary schools.

It was a normal evening on Monday, April 16, when the white BMW carrying Kenny Reilly pulled up to a junction in Maryhill Road, the key artery to the north of the city and close to its leafy West End.

Yet, within minutes, the peace was shattered when a black people carrier heaved in front of his vehicle, and a balaclava-wearing thug leapt out with a pistol and began pumping shots through the passenger window. The assassin then fled in the people carrier, which was found burnt out in nearby Craigieburn Gardens.

Police are still investigating the attack on Mr Reilly, who later died in hospital, and have stopped more than 600 vehicles in the area seeking witnesses.

Murder squad officer Detective Superintendent Kenny Graham, of Greater Glasgow Division, who is in charge of the investigation, remains concerned about the level of indiscriminate violence.

He said: “Whoever is responsible for this shooting clearly has no regard for the safety of those living in this busy residential area, and they must be caught.

“We believe this was a targeted attack and Kenny was the intended victim, but we are pursuing all lines of enquiry.”

The murder of Mr Reilly is one of five shootings in the past two years that have gripped the city, and comes as David Scott, 33, stands trial at the High Court in Glasgow over the death of Euan Johnston.

Mr Johnston was killed when three 9mm bullets were fired into his car as he sat in the drivers’ seat at the junction of Shields Road and Scotland Street in November 2016. The 26-year-old was hit in the head, and died instantly.

More fortunate was Ross Monaghan, 35, who was shot while picking up his daughter last year.

Mr Monaghan, who was acquitted of the murder of gangland figure Kevin ‘Gerbil’ Carroll, 29, eight years ago, was shot in the back as he ran from a man who produced a gun from a baby’s buggy and who had apparently been lying in wait outside St George’s Primary School.

The South Side suburb of Shawlands also saw gun violence just over 12 months ago when 34-year-old Ross Craig was shot in the arm and the leg by a man he saw standing at the bottom of his driveway.

And last month the home of John Bisland, in Calton, was riddled with bullets during a drive-by shooting. No one was injured during the attack, said to be linked to drug-dealing in the East End.

It came weeks after a man was run over and stabbed in the streets nearby.

While the violence plaguing the city appears random, much of the disorder has been laid at the door of two warring families who have been escalating revenge attacks on each other for many years.

One source said: “This all began over drugs, but about 15 years ago that all changed. There’s now a deeply personal feud between two clans that shows no sign of abating.

“It’s tit-for-tat violence and it’s been growing increasingly worse as the gangsters become more brazen. The shootings are just the latest acts of violence in a grim family drama that is being played out on the streets.”

The insider added: “But don’t be mistaken – violence in Glasgow has been falling for years to a base level, and is now going through peaks and troughs. It just happens to have peaked again.”

During the past two years, violent crime has risen in Glasgow. Last year, 1,539 acts of violence were recorded by police, up from 1,358 in 2014.

Yet police are quick to stress the city is not sliding back to its bad old days, with levels still at a historic low.

Aside from traditional policing methods, officers not have other weapons at their disposal, and have begin including hitting the criminal gangs in their pockets.

It is hoped new development may be the key to stamping them out once and for all.

Detective Superintendent Graham said: “We are well aware there are concerns of so-called gangland violence in Glasgow, which is why we established Operation Engagement over a year ago.

“It targets those who we believe are involved in this type of criminality by using intervention tactics to disrupt their lifestyle and daily lives. It has been a success, with officers making arrests; seizing drugs; and seizing cars that are used to carry out their activities.”Detective Superintendent Kenny Graham of Greater Glasgow Division said:

“Whoever is responsible for this shooting clearly has no regard for the safety of those living in this busy residential area, and they must be caught.

“We believe that this was a targeted attack and that Kenny was the intended victim, however we are pursuing all lines of enquiry.“Extensive forensic examinations have taken place in both Bilsland Drive and Craigieburn Gardens where the burnt-out vehicle was found.“Over 600 cars were stopped and more than 100 members of the public were also spoken to as part of a stop and speak operation one week after the incident.

“Officers are now looking to the local community to come forward with any information which may be able to assist them in their enquiries.

“Think back, do you remember seeing a black people carrier in the area that night or anything else that you may think be able to help us? We urge you to come forward and contact us.”