ID :
75516
Sun, 08/16/2009 - 08:16
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/75516
The shortlink copeid
Cops intercept bikies at Sydney airport
Police arrested two alleged bikie gang members on outstanding interstate warrants
after rivals from three outlaw gangs flew into Sydney Airport on Friday.
Detectives received information that members of the three gangs were on separate
flights from Adelaide.
They were intercepted at the airport and searched by police but let through the
terminal.
A police spokesman told AAP that detectives did not believe the gang members were
planning a brawl similar to the one in which 29-year-old Anthony Zervas died on
March 22 and that the main reason for the operation was the outstanding warrants.
Officers followed a known Northern Territory Hells Angels member from the airport to
a business premises in Redfern.
Three other bikie gang members arrived at the same building shortly afterwards, with
police identifying one as a Sydney Hells Angel member.
"Officers identified two of the men present as having outstanding interstate
apprehension warrants and arrested them," a police statement said.
"Officers took both men to Redfern Police Station where they were charged with the
outstanding warrants.
"The 48-year-old Northern Territory man was charged with an outstanding warrant for
dangerous driving while the 43-year-old Strathfield man was charged with outstanding
warrants for traffic, drug, property, fraud and fail to appear matters."
Both were refused bail and were due to appear in Parramatta Local Court on Saturday.
A group representing 18 bikie clubs, including the Hells Angels, criticised the
police operation that led to the arrests.
A spokeswoman for the United Motorcycle Council said only one of the men arrested on
Friday was a bikie member and accused the police of heavy handed tactics.
"The police operation was over the top," the spokeswoman told AAP.
"Because of the bad press bikie members have been getting, we've heard of ordinary
motorbike members being abused.
"The truth is, we're just as concerned about public safety as anyone else."
She said the bikie member arrested was wanted on a warrant relating to a driving
offence.
She said the council's legal team told her the other man arrested had no connections
to a bikie club.
after rivals from three outlaw gangs flew into Sydney Airport on Friday.
Detectives received information that members of the three gangs were on separate
flights from Adelaide.
They were intercepted at the airport and searched by police but let through the
terminal.
A police spokesman told AAP that detectives did not believe the gang members were
planning a brawl similar to the one in which 29-year-old Anthony Zervas died on
March 22 and that the main reason for the operation was the outstanding warrants.
Officers followed a known Northern Territory Hells Angels member from the airport to
a business premises in Redfern.
Three other bikie gang members arrived at the same building shortly afterwards, with
police identifying one as a Sydney Hells Angel member.
"Officers identified two of the men present as having outstanding interstate
apprehension warrants and arrested them," a police statement said.
"Officers took both men to Redfern Police Station where they were charged with the
outstanding warrants.
"The 48-year-old Northern Territory man was charged with an outstanding warrant for
dangerous driving while the 43-year-old Strathfield man was charged with outstanding
warrants for traffic, drug, property, fraud and fail to appear matters."
Both were refused bail and were due to appear in Parramatta Local Court on Saturday.
A group representing 18 bikie clubs, including the Hells Angels, criticised the
police operation that led to the arrests.
A spokeswoman for the United Motorcycle Council said only one of the men arrested on
Friday was a bikie member and accused the police of heavy handed tactics.
"The police operation was over the top," the spokeswoman told AAP.
"Because of the bad press bikie members have been getting, we've heard of ordinary
motorbike members being abused.
"The truth is, we're just as concerned about public safety as anyone else."
She said the bikie member arrested was wanted on a warrant relating to a driving
offence.
She said the council's legal team told her the other man arrested had no connections
to a bikie club.
