Australian Bikie Gangs

An Australian reader who goes by the moniker “thefrollickingmole” had trouble posting a comment here, so he sent me an email instead. My recent posts on the Danish chapter of Hells Angels prompted him to send an account of motorcycle gangs in Australia:

Here in Oz we have an interesting wrinkle on the bikie gangs issue.

First off, my little bit is about Australia; this will vary from country to country.

The Hells Angels in Australia are criminal scum, no two ways about it. Those not actively engaged in crime are enjoying the money/lifestyle generated by those that are. They are a huge force in the drug industry and own many legitimate businesses purchased with money from the proceeds of crime.

They are no friends of “civilians”; who do you think the junkie who robs you is frightened of when he owes money?

However, a new twist has emerged in Australia, this will be worth keeping an eye on internationally.

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Some bikie gangs began recruiting Muslims as muscle, this has led to the takeover of some groups by Muslims, and the formation of the first all-Muslim gang. There have been a number of shootings/bombings/stabbings between the rival groups reported (God knows how much goes unreported).

Here are a few links:

• This first one makes it clear the gangs are split into Sunni and Shia groups.
  
• This is one of the bombings.
  
• One of their youtube recruiting/bragging videos.
  
• More on them. Note the gay-bashing, something that would still be front page news here if it weren’t immigrants doing it.
  
• They even kill each other in airports.

Notice how our soft court system allows him out on bail “to look after his wife”…

As I said, I don’t know if this is a purely Aussie issue, but it might be worth looking at the ethnic backgrounds of some of the bikie gangs that may be competing with the Hells Angels in your patch.

Cheers,
thefrollickingmole