New York, Apr 28 (IANS): New York City police launched a massive operation and arrested 120 members of two criminal gangs who had terrorised sectors of The Bronx for several years.

The arrests were made between Tuesday and Wednesday morning on charges of murder and selling drugs, and it is considered to be the biggest blow against organised crime in the city's recent history, authorities said Wednesday night.

According to the information made public by law enforcement authorities, 57 of those arrested were presumed members of the '2Fly' gang and 63 are members of the 'Big Money Bosses' gang.

The two groups have been warring since 2007 and, according to the US attorney for the Southern District of New York, Preet Bharara, have terrorised parts of The Bronx for years, selling drugs and perpetrating acts of "senseless violence".

The authorities released the identities of eight people who were presumably murdered by members of the two gangs, including a 92-year-old woman who was killed by a stray bullet and a 15-year-old boy who was stabbed to death.

The two gangs are responsible for at least 39 murders, police said.