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Waiting to ignite
29may05
ADELAIDE'S simmering bikie war could erupt into a full-scale showdown at any
time, gang sources have told the Sunday Mail.
'And innocent
bystanders may be hurt or even killed, they have warned.
"I have a really
strong gut feeling that something big is going to happen soon to save face
in the outlaw scene," one gang insider said.
"It (the feud) will
never stop."
His comments come just
days after members of the Hells Angels and Rebels clashed – with shots fired
– during the Adelaide Dance Music Awards at AAMI Stadium.
As police from the Operation Avatar bikie gangs unit continue to investigate
last Monday's incident, it has also been revealed:
THE feud has its genesis in a shooting at a city hotel
in 1998.
AN expert on bikie gang culture claimed there would be
further reprisals – "there is no doubt".
The revelations come as more than 30 Gypsy Jokers
staged a "run" from their Wingfield clubhouse to Wallaroo yesterday in
memory of member Steven "Fly" Hydon, who was shot dead outside the Weeroona
Hotel on May 29 last year.
The bikie gang source said it would take "very little"
for a similar situation to the AAMI Stadium clash to ignite "something big".
"I wouldn't say I'd sit there expecting it but I'd say
it would be highly probable given similar circumstances," he said.
"If a dozen Rebels saw a few Angels, I'd say it would
be on."
The source said the ongoing feud began seven years ago
when Rebels members bashed a Hells Angel in the Heritage Hotel, city, before
he shot and wounded two of them and a female bystander.
"It really just started as a minor dispute which
escalated into a back-and-forth payback for hurting and killing each club's
members," he said.
Tensions between the rival clubs are also believed to
be linked to the bombing of the Rebels' Brompton clubhouse in July 1999 and
the shooting deaths of three Rebels outside their Wright St clubrooms in
October that same year.
A turf war between the two gangs and their links with
several city nightclubs – including Heaven and Rise – over who provides
security guards is also believed to be a factor.
Monash University criminologist and recognised expert
on bikie gangs Dr Arthur Veno warned of more reprisals .
"What has happened will not go unanswered," he said.
"There will be further incidents."
Dr Veno, who has documented gangs for almost two
decades, said under club codes conflicting members and affilitates must work
through disagreements privately – not in the public arena.
"The kind of actions that have happened in Adelaide –
the shootings in public – is considered a gross breach of their codes," he
said.
"It is incredibly stupid, this incident. It is the
most idiotic and damaging behaviour the clubs could engage in."
Avatar detectives are examining video footage from
AAMI Stadium and have urged those in the audience of 600 who saw what
happened to come forward with information.
On Wednesday, Detective Inspector Graham Goodwin
admitted police had no idea the rival gangs were feuding until the dance
music awards confrontation.
"Sometimes it is a failing of our intelligence
holdings and gatherings but we always look and relook at these issues to
make sure we can make a positive impact," he said.
Det-Insp Goodwin confirmed Heaven nightclub had
organised several tables at the awards, where Hells Angels members were
sitting.
Members and associates of the Rebels were seated at a
table booked by Rise nightclub, he said.
"This has caused quite a considerable amount of
concern in the community," Det-Insp Goodwin said.
"People are frightened. People are scared."
Police declined to coment further yesterday.
Police Minister Kevin Foley said the Goverment was
"unwavering in its commitment to cracking down on the scourge of bikie
gangs".
"This battle to defeat these criminals is a battle the
police and Government are determined to win," he said.
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