AUSTRALIA - Police despair as bikie violence hurts bystander

OFF THE WIRE
Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson says the current wave of violence linked to motorcycle gxxgs is the worst Queensland has ever seen.On Saturday afternoon terrified shoppers ran for cover when two people were shot at the busy Robina Town Centre shopping centre.
Police have confirmed the injured man had links to an outlaw motorcycle gang, but a nearby woman, described as an "innocent bystander", was also hurt.
Mr Atkinson has described the incident as intolerable.
"If, as we believe now, that the woman who was shot is an innocent bystander, completely innocent victim, I'm not aware in the past in Queensland where that's ever happened," he said.
"In a public place, with the use of a firearm, and potentially an innocent member of the public being shot, and other members of the public being terrorised and potentially put at risk, there is hardly a worst case scenario than what we've seen this afternoon."
Mr Atkinson says police will do everything possible to pursue those responsible.
The gunman - described as a muscular man of Pacific Islander appearance with a tattooed neck, carrying a silver handgun - is still at large.
He is reported to have walked up to the victim and shot him in the right bicep before fleeing the scene.
It is believed the 45-year-old woman, who was shot in her pelvis, was an innocent bystander.
Both victims were taken to the Gold Coast hospital and are in a stable condition.
Wave of violence
The double shooting at Robina is the latest in a series of violent attacks across Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
This week businesses owned by the Bandidos and the Hells Angels were targeted and shots were also fired into a clubhouse of the Gypsy Jokers at Everton Hills.
Police say they have had little co-operation from the gxxgs.
On Friday, Queensland Police Minister Jack Dempsey issued a blunt warning that the violence will not be tolerated.
"If you don't want to change your habits you'll be going to jail," he said.
But on Saturday morning Professor Paul Wilson from Bond University said police should focus on individual club members.
"They have to concentrate clearly on those individuals within gxxgs which have been involved in the violence," he said.
"Taking on entire clubs is not a particularly useful way of doing it. I think there is every reason to target individuals within bikie gxxgs who commit crimes and the police certainly have been trying to do that for some time."
Video: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-04-29/police-say-bikie-violence-is-worst-queensland-has-ever-seen/3978444