Revenge feared after Melbourne shooting

Police across Australia are on alert for revenge attacks after the slaying of Melbourne crime family patriarch Macchour Chaouk.

The highly charged feud between the Chaouk family and a rival clan has worried investigators, who have notified interstate and federal police agencies of possible violence.

Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Sir Ken Jones has called for calm and warned anyone contemplating revenge after the Friday shooting that avengers will be caught.

"In relation to the death of Macchour Chaouk, Victoria Police continues to take active steps in a number of Melbourne communities to guard against any risk of escalation," he said.

"In this, Victoria Police is being actively assisted by federal and state law enforcement agencies."

It is believed the Chaouks have links to Lebanese crime gangs in Sydney and courts have heard they have access to weapons and are involved in a war with the rival Haddara family.

The Chaouk family has already vowed revenge for the death of its 65-year-old patriarch, saying "the weak, dirty dogs killed him on Ramadan" in a statement obtained by The Age newspaper.

"His blood does not come cheap, especially in Ramadan," it says. A family spokesman told the newspaper: "Every dog has its day."

Macchour Chaouk was gunned down by a drive-by shooter about 11am on Friday in the backyard of his fortified Brooklyn home in Melbourne's west. His wife, another family member and three young children were home at the time and ran to his side. He died minutes later.

Late on Friday police arrested a 57-year-old man in connection with Chaouk's death. Hours after the Chaouk attack, a shooting rampage tore up a pokies venue on busy Lygon St, sparking fears that revenge attacks had already begun.

Two men died in the shooting at Players and a suspect was quickly arrested.

He is being questioned by detectives.

Sir Ken said investigators had ruled out any links between the two shootings.

- AAP