OFF THE WIRE
perthnow.com.au
WA police have refused to apologise for ramming an armoured vehicle through the front gate of the Rebels bikie gang headquarters in Osborne Park.
WA's specialist crime division were criticised for knocking over the clubhouse’s mezzanine level and throwing stun grenades before storming the building around 5pm yesterday.
Specialist Crime Assistant Commissioner Nick Anticich said his department was carrying out a “high-risk” search warrant in an eight-month-long investigation of bikie gangs for aggravated burglaries and serious assaults.
The raid was one of three carried out across Perth yesterday following a weekend of violence between feuding Rebels and Rock Machine outlaw bikie gangs.
Mr Anticich said he was unapologetic for the damaged the police caused during the raid, despite making no arrests.
“Police attended the club house to search for evidence and secure it,” Mr Anticich said.
“The warrant, which was executed under the Criminal Investigation Act, empowered police to use reasonable force to gain entry to the specified premises named in that warrant.”
Mr Anticich said the clubhouse was damaged because it was so heavily secured.
“The people of Western Australia should not have to accept this class of premises within their community,” Mr Anticich said.
On Sunday, a tattoo parlour was ransacked and its manager bashed in what is believed to be feud between the Rebels and Rock Machine motorcycle gangs.
In November, there was an attempted firebombing of a tattoo parlour owned by a Rebels bikie at Bibra Lake in Perth's south.
