Biker gangs bring war to Britain: Cops fear clashes as crews roll into Europe
Biker gangs bring war to Britain: Cops fear clashes as crews roll into Europe
Police have warned that violent gangs from America, Canada and Australia – some armed with assault rifles and grenades – have arrived on the continent
Britain is bracing itself for a wave of deadly biker gang turf wars which could start rolling across Europe.
Police have warned that violent gangs from America, Canada and Australia – some armed with assault rifles and grenades – have arrived on the continent.
It has raised fears that there will be a surge in violence as the “Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs” battle it out for supremacy and control of organised crime markets.
The UK has been put on alert by Europol, the EU’s law enforcement agency, which says the arrival of the Comancheros and Rebels from Australia, Rock Machine from Canada plus the Mongols and the Vagos from the US has sparked tensions with established biker gangs.
The OMCGs are said to be recruiting far-right militants, football hooligans and members from ex-military circles as they look for control of drug, gun and human trafficking routes.
But many of the gang members are not thought to be proper bikers – some do not even own a bike or have a driving licence.
The Outlaws, who have 30 chapters in England and Wales, were behind the murder of Hells Angel Gerry Tobin, 35.
He was shot in the back of the head while riding his Harley -Davidson on the M40 in 2007.
Europol, who have told British police to monitor UK gangs closely, fear a return of the Great Nordic Biker Wars of the 90s that left 12 dead and nearly 100 wounded.
Large swathes of Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway saw rival gangs battle over “drug turfs”.
It began with a car park shoot-out that quickly escalated when an anti-tank rocket was fired at a Hells Angels clubhouse.
The war raged with shootings, street assassinations and bombings.
It ended after an innocent passer-by was killed by a car bomb.
A Europol spokesman said: “Establishing a chapter on the turf of another gang is interpreted as an act of provocation. This is likely to result in violent confrontations which could include the use of rifles like Kalashnikovs and explosive devices such as grenades.
“Given the significant expansion of gangs in Europe, we have informed law enforcement partners of the risk of clashes.”
The fight riders
There are various biker gangs linked to crime.
Most famous are the Hells Angels – started in California in 1948.
The US Department of Justice says it has links to drug dealing, extortion and prostitution.
The Outlaws were formed in the US in 1935.
Members were jailed for a 30-strong brawl at Birmingham Airport in 2008.
The Australian-based Comancheros – named after a John Wayne film – have been involved in deadly feuds with Hells Angels.
Also in Australia, the Rebels demand members ride Harley-Davidsons. Police raids found drugs, guns and a crocodile.
Rock Machine started in Quebec and is active in the Canadian drug trade.
California’s Mongols attract ex-soldiers.
Another US gang is Vagos – whose members wear green.