Police on watch as bikies set for rally

THE new-look senior leadership of the Comanchero outlaw bikie gang has descended on Melbourne ahead of the club’s national rally.

Underworld sources say the rally is intended as a show of force following a devastating year of arrests, including that of “Commander of the world” Mark Buddle.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said officers would keep a close eye on the rally.

“They will closely monitor the run and take swift action in the event any OMCG members involved in the event commit criminal, road safety or public order offences,” the spokeswoman said.

The Comanchero holds most of its national gatherings in Victoria and Canberra because anti-association laws make it almost impossible for members to meet in large numbers in NSW, Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia.

The gang’s recently appointed national president, Allan Meehan, will lead the rally through Hallam, Prahran and Dandenong North under the close watch of dozens of police officers.

Meehan, a close friend of Buddle, is among a small contingent of senior Comanchero to avoid arrest or charge in the past year.

Among the gang members behind bars are Meehan’s predecessor as national president, Mick Murray, who has been remanded in custody since he was charged with the murder of Mitat Rasimi in April.

Meehan’s right-hand man, Melbourne-based Tarek Zahed, had been planning to attend the rally but was last month arrested in NSW.

Zahed, the gang’s national sergeant-at-arms, survived an attempt on his life in May, but was remanded in custody in NSW charged with kidnapping and murder.

The gang’s former Victorian sergeant-at-arms, Christian Tuamefolu, is also behind bars.

Canberra chapter commander Khaled Khoder will also be notably absent from the rally, with bail conditions banning him from contacting any fellow gang members.

Police say the Comanchero remain the most powerful outlaw bikie gang in the country.