Searches - Raid against Rockers in Unterfranken (Germany)
The Police searched seven private apartments and houses of suspected members of the biker gang "Bandidos" in Unterfranken and three clubhouses in Unterfranken and Baden-Württemberg. Approximately 100 people were involved in the operation, according to the police, including a Special Operations Command (SEK), but the operation proceeded peacefully. Several people were temporarily arrested, but were released after the police measures were completed.
This was the second round of searches in connection with a confrontation on July 13th that resulted in several injured individuals. On Tuesday, the police had already searched rooms of five suspected "Outlaws."
About two weeks ago, approximately 40 bikers from the two potentially dangerous groups clashed at a gas station in Marktheidenfeld. At least five injured individuals were found at the scene. It is unclear if there were additional injuries, as some of the involved parties had fled. The "Outlaws" have a clubhouse in the Marktheidenfeld area. It is unknown why they encountered their rivals at the gas station and the situation escalated.
The searches on Wednesday targeted residences in Lohr, Marktheidenfeld, Weilbach, Waldbüttelbrunn, Großheubach and Großrinderfeld, according to the police. Additionally, clubhouses of the "Outlaws" in the underfrankish Roden and Külsheim in Baden-Württemberg, as well as a clubhouse of the "Bandidos" in the underfrankish Miltenberg were searched.
Raids with Special Units
The prosecutor requested searches in apartments and houses due to new findings regarding potential suspects, it was stated. On Tuesday, the investigators were supported by the emergency police and a support command (USK). The USK is a special unit that assists the police in operations with potential for violence.
On Tuesday, according to the police, evidence was secured, including knives, clubs, and ring handles. On Wednesday, the focus was on securing evidence, and a gun was found in a clubhouse. A complete inventory was not yet available. The police also wanted to send a signal with the raids that "this form of biker criminality is in no way tolerated" and that intensive investigations would be conducted, a spokesperson said.
Before the confrontation at the gas station, there had been disputes between bikers, according to the police. This involved two motorcycle riders who allegedly clashed in the late afternoon or early evening of the day of the incident in Urspringen (Main-Spessart district). There were also indications of further confrontations between members of both motorcycle clubs in the Marktheidenfeld area.
- Despite the peaceful execution of the raids, a few individuals associated with the "Bandidos" and "Outlaws" rocker gangs were temporarily arrested but later released.
- The police operations on Wednesday expanded to private dwellings in Lower Franconian towns such as Lohr, Marktheidenfeld, Weilbach, Waldbüttelbrunn, Großheubach, and Großrinderfeld.
- The outlaws' criminal activities extended beyond gas stations, as police also raided their clubhouse in Roden, Underfranken, and their base in Külsheim, Baden-Württemberg.
- The police search in Miltenberg, Underfranken, uncovered a gun in the "Bandidos" clubhouse, adding to the evidence collected during the raids.
- Rock groups like the "Bandidos" and "Outlaws" have been linked to increased criminality in the region, prompting the police to intensify their investigations and send a strong message of intolerance.
- The police had previously conducted searches at the residences of five suspected "Outlaws" members in response to the July 13th incident, which resulted in injuries.
- The escalation of violence between the rival biker gangs reached a peak with the clash at a gas station in Marktheidenfeld, where at least five individuals were injured, and some managed to flee after the incident.
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