Northern metropolitan MP Craig Ondarchie believes the state government’s new anti-fortification laws have been vindicated following a recent spate of bikie violence across Melbourne.
The laws, which came into effect on Sunday, allow police to tear down “fortress-like” protection around motorcycle gang club houses.
Mr Ondarchie said a brawl at a South Morang shopping centre on September 22 demonstrated the importance of the crackdown as the state couldn’t stand idly by and watch outlaw motorcycle clubs “terrorise suburban Victoria”.
Police say five men attacked two others at the Groove Train cafe at Westfield Plaza. They say it turned into a brawl, with both parties using chairs and bottles. A Lalor man, 35, sustained facial injuries in the incident, which was seen by about 100 people, including children.
An Epping man was charged with affray and behaving in a riotous manner.
And on September 30, a Hallam gym and a Dandenong tattoo parlour were shot at with what police identified as “high-powered military weapons”.
Both are reportedly owned by the Comanchero motorcycle club.
Six of eight men arrested in police raids on Tuesday appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday on assault, weapons and drug charges.
Comancheros Gemino Aloia, 26, of Glenroy, Bemir Saracevic, 26, Emir Jaha, 27, and Gladstone Park’s Mark Balsillie, 29, were all remanded to appear again on December 19.
Hell’s Angel Dennis Basic was remanded to a committal hearing on December 20, while Mohammed Khodr, also aligned with the Hell’s Angels, was bailed to reappear on October 15.
