Belgian police seized weapons during crackdown on biker gangs

BRUSSELS: Belgian police seized a rocket-launcher, guns and Nazi paraphernalia as they arrested 12 suspects in a crackdown on biker gangs, the authorities said.

The swoop saw a total of 18 operations focused on Hells Angels’ meeting places or support clubs mainly in the Dutch-speaking border province of Limburg, Genk police official Rudi Schellingen told a press conference.

The charge list that led to Tuesday night’s arrests includes extortion, drugs, weapons, membership of a criminal organisation, theft, violence, prostitution, arson and more, federal prosecutors’ spokesperson Wenke Roggen told state broadcaster RTBF.

Police seized 50 knives and guns, a rocket-launcher, 800 round of ammunition, knuckle-dusters, pepper sprays, hashish, and 10,000 euros in cash, the Belga news agency reported.

The haul also included bulletproof vests, police badges and Nazi SS equipment.

Ten of the 12 arrested were Hells Angels, Belga added.

“Criminal biker gangs, which are banned abroad or closely watched, are looking for a new operations base in Limburg province,” Roggen said.

She was referring to the Netherlands which has a tough policy against biker gangs.

The Bandidos, a group named after a Californian biker gang from the 60s, was outlawed in the Netherlands in December.

The Hells Angels, like their rivals the Bandidos, are accused of promoting violence and organised crime across Europe. — AFP