A TATTOO shop with links to the Bandidos outlaw motorcycle gang is the latest target of an escalating war between rival bikie groups, police said.
Tattoolicious at Yagoona, in Sydney's southwest, went up in flames early yesterday when a stolen 4WD was rammed through the front window and set alight.
Police confirmed the tattoo business was run by people with links to the Bandidos, which was a significant part of their investigation into the arson attack.
Less than two months ago, a tattoo parlour in South Hurstville, Yoshues Arts Studio, was targeted in a similar ram-raid-style attack when a Nissan Patrol was driven into the shop and torched. Police said they were looking at links between the two incidents.
"The investigation is only in its infancy, but obviously we will be looking at both fires, given they are so similar in nature," a police spokesman said yesterday.
On the Tattoolicious Facebook page yesterday, staff vented their frustration at the overnight attack.
"You could have been a little more creative - the infrared camera got your coward ass," the status update read.But they vowed to begin trading again soon.
"Tattoolicious will be back bigger and better than ever. No one can shut us down," it said.
Car crashes into tattoo parlour.
Witness Angus Zhao, 22, was on his way home to Bankstown with a friend at around 2.30am when he noticed the burning shop and stopped his car.
"We were worried someone was inside," Mr Zhao said.
It took fire fighters almost two hours to bring the inferno under control.
The tattoo shop was completely destroyed, and several nearby businesses suffered smoke and water damage.
One nearby business owner, who gave his name as Zeb, said it was not the first time the tattoo shop had been targeted.
"There have been problems there before - vandalism and graffiti - so I guess this is the next step," Zeb said.
Surveillance footage from the shop and nearby businesses on the Hume Hwy has been seized by police.
Recent Tattoo Parlour incidents in NSW:
* December 29, 2010 - Petrol bomb attack on Coogee tattoo parlour
* April 19, 2011 - Chippendale tattoo parlour set alight
* June 22, 2011 - Firebombing at Hurstville tattoo parlour
* August 26, 2011 - Fire at tattoo parlour after 4WD crash
* October 17 2011 - Car explodes after smashing into Yagoona tattoo parlour
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/sydney-nsw/bikies-go-tit-for-tatt-after-explosion-at-tattoolicious-tattoo-parlour/story-e6freuzi-1226169172605
Witness Angus Zhao, 22, was on his way home to Bankstown with a friend at around 2.30am when he noticed the burning shop and stopped his car.
"We were worried someone was inside," Mr Zhao said.
It took fire fighters almost two hours to bring the inferno under control.
The tattoo shop was completely destroyed, and several nearby businesses suffered smoke and water damage.
One nearby business owner, who gave his name as Zeb, said it was not the first time the tattoo shop had been targeted.
"There have been problems there before - vandalism and graffiti - so I guess this is the next step," Zeb said.
Surveillance footage from the shop and nearby businesses on the Hume Hwy has been seized by police.
Recent Tattoo Parlour incidents in NSW:
* December 29, 2010 - Petrol bomb attack on Coogee tattoo parlour
* April 19, 2011 - Chippendale tattoo parlour set alight
* June 22, 2011 - Firebombing at Hurstville tattoo parlour
* August 26, 2011 - Fire at tattoo parlour after 4WD crash
* October 17 2011 - Car explodes after smashing into Yagoona tattoo parlour
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/sydney-nsw/bikies-go-tit-for-tatt-after-explosion-at-tattoolicious-tattoo-parlour/story-e6freuzi-1226169172605
