15 February 2019

Bikie brawl breaks out in Woden club restaurant

| Lachlan Roberts
Join the conversation
3

Police are seeking witnesses to a bikie gang brawl that broke out in a busy restaurant of a Woden club last month.

On 18 January, more than a dozen bikie gang members were involved in the melee inside the unnamed club as patrons, including young children, were eating nearby. Police have arrested six men involved in the incident, who have been charged with affray and released on strict bail conditions. The men will face the ACT Magistrates Court at a later date.

Detective Superintendent Scott Moller said the gang members who were involved in the brawl were known to police but would not reveal which gangs were involved so as not to “sensationalise” the bikie gangs. He said the violent brawl did not involve any weapons but left the patrons fearing for their lives.

ACT Policing’s Taskforce Nemesis is seeking to identify at least another six men involved in the altercation.

When asked why ACT Policing had not notified the public about the incident earlier, Detective Superintendent Moller said police didn’t want to jeopardise the investigation.

“As part of our ongoing investigation, we are looking to get all the witnesses that we can,” Detective Superintendent Moller said. “Over a dozen people were involved, at the moment we have arrested six so we are trying to identify witnesses who may help us identify other people.

“We are looking for witnesses that saw the incident. I’m really looking for the effect that this incident had on our witnesses.

“This investigation has been going on for some time and we didn’t want to jeopardise [it] by going out to the media too early.”

The latest incident comes after police revealed a fourth bikie gang had formed, with the Satudarah joining the Rebels, the Comancheros and the Nomads with chapters in the ACT, less than a year after the Finks tried and failed to establish an ACT chapter last year.

It is feared the arrival of Satudarah in the ACT could renew the turf war between the rival gangs, after a violent bikie attack at an Oaks Estate home left a man seriously injured on 10 January.

Police arrested a 30-year-old male, believed to be the president of the ACT Satudurah chapter on 25 January and a 58-year-old man on 31 January.

Cars were also set alight and shots fired into a Kambah home in a targeted bikie attack on 4 February.

Anyone who witnessed the latest bikie incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

Join the conversation

3
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest

“As part of our ongoing investigation, we are looking to get all the witnesses that we can,” Detective Superintendent Moller said.

That would be a bit difficult when the cops won’t even tell us the club where it occurred.

With our green labour government refusing to bring in bikie laws , unlike other states ( including dear old staid Tassie ), this sort of behaviour will become more prevalent. The latest bikie gang attracted to the ACT, the Satudarah, are a particular extreme mob, and we can expect more headlines from them alone.

I guess as the violence escalates even into club cafes, where you would normally feel quite safe in taking your family, you might need to think of home delivered pizzas and what have you.

This violence has escalated and will increase , until it becomes the norm. So we need to get used to it, as the government expects us to.

I am a Rabbit™6:10 pm 17 Feb 19

You mean the states where their consorting laws have been complete failures, and have instead simply been used to erode the civil liberties of the population? Those laws have nothing to do with stopping gang violence, and everything to do with being a trojan horse for increased police powers.

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.