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Coogee tattoo parlour run by bike gang petrol bombed

Glenda Kwek

December 29, 2010 - 1:55PM

Police investigate a possible gang connection to the bombing of a tattoo parlour in eastern Sydney last night.

Almost 30 neighbours were evacuated after a tattoo parlour owned by the Comanchero motorcycle gang in Sydney's eastern suburbs was petrol bombed.

The business in Coogee Bay Road, Coogee, called Coogee Ink, was badly damaged in the attack at 12.50am today.

The gutted tattoo parlour in Coogee Bay Road.

The gutted tattoo parlour in Coogee Bay Road. Photo: Nick Moir

Firefighters brought the blaze under control and nobody was hurt.

Police are hunting two men seen near the tattoo parlour around the time of the incident.

A couple who live next to the parlour said police burst into their apartment about 1am while they were sleeping, yelling "move out, move out now".

Mr Jean Fischer and his partner Francine ... they were woken by police and told to get out of their unit.

Mr Jean Fischer and his partner Francine ... they were woken by police and told to get out of their unit. Photo: Glenda Kwek

"There were lots of people running down the steps," Mr Jean Fischer said. "We didn't know what was happening.

"We waited on Coogee Bay Road. ... It was a big shock to see the fire."

Mr Fischer said he watched the firefighters put out the fire, then, about 3am, he returned to the apartment after it was inspected for structural damage.

What the tattoo shop looked like before the attack. Source: Facebook

What the tattoo shop looked like before the attack. Source: Facebook

His partner, Francine Nesgueweitz, said they were lucky their unit was not damaged and praised firefighters and police for their quick work.

They were still waiting for their electricity supply to be turned back on.

Another resident who lives half a block from the parlour said she heard a lot of glass breaking when the attack took place and thought it was caused by revellers from the nearby Coogee Bay Hotel.

The scene outside the petrol-bombed tattoo parlour on Coogee Bay Road in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

The scene outside the petrol-bombed tattoo parlour on Coogee Bay Road in Sydney's eastern suburbs. Photo: Stephen Hutcheon

"It sounded like all the bottles from a recycling bin was tipped out and [someone] smashed it against the glass [shop front]," Robyn Thorncraft said.

"I didn't come out to have a look as ... I was too scared.

"I didn't know it was a fire until this morning."

Parlour owned by the Comancheros

The Comancheros' national president, Duax Ngakuru, his right-hand Mark Buddle and a third man co-own the parlour.

Buddle was recently released on bail following a brawl with the head of rival crime gang Notorious, Allan Sakis, and his associate David Lima.

All three were placed on remand after being charged with affray over a end-October brawl on the main street on Bondi.

All three has sinced been bailed.

''Certainly, the tattoo shop is linked to an outlaw motorcycle gang and that is one of a number of inquiries we will be making,'' Superintendent Gavin Dengate of the Eastern Beaches local area command said.

''At this stage, we don't know if it's a revenge attack.''

The owners of the building where it was located were not linked to any gangs, he said, adding that they were "devastated" by the petrol bombing.

He said investigators were looking at whether the attack was linked to other petrol bombings of tattoo parlours across Sydney, but added that it was too early to determine if it was a revenge attack.

with Dylan Welch and AAP

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