Police are investigating a bikie shooting in Canberra's south overnight, the second in a week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
On Wednesday, ACT Policing confirmed 27 shots from a high-powered rifle were fired into the Waramanga home of a bikie family members, which includes a 17-year-old, at about 11:20pm on Tuesday.
Police declined to name the gangs involved, but outlaw motorcycle gang researcher and expert Terry Goldsworthy said public knowledge of the gangs involved could help find those responsible.
"There's no benefit to saying we're not going to tell you who's involved," Mr Goldsworthy, a former Queensland police detective inspector, said.
Officers found damage to a car and the front of a house in Badimara Street which was consistent with a firearm being discharged.
On Wednesday, Detective Superintendent of Criminal Investigations Ben Cartwright said ACT Policing's anti-bikie Taskforce Nemesis
was coming after the bikies "hook, line and sinker".
"They're a scourge on our community and I want them gone," Mr Cartwright said.
In 2015, police were called to the same house after shots were fired into cars and the house, which is owned by an outlaw motorcycle gang member.
According to various neighbours on Wednesday, who won't be named for safety reasons, they heard loud banging at about 11:00pm on Tuesday night.
The shooters fled before any of the contacted neighbours could see anything, but police said a car was seen leaving the area at high speed.
The home's occupants were uncooperative with police, who then used legal means to gain entry.
A hatchback sitting on the lawn had broken windows caused by gunfire. Bullet holes were also visible along the face of the house on Wednesday.
In an earlier incident on Friday morning, shots were fired and three cars set alight in Kambah in what police described as an escalating bikie feud.
"There's obviously a feud going on between outlaw motorcycle gang members," Mr Cartwright said at the time.
There was no information on Wednesday to suggest the two incidents are linked but Taskforce Nemesis is investigating the possibility it was a reprisal shooting.
Taskforce Nemesis is also investigating the possibility it's an internal dispute inside the same OMCG.
Mr Goldsworthy said there were other ways to disrupt bikie gangs in the ACT besides investigating the shootings proper, including motorcycle license checks, enforcing liquor license compliance at clubhouses, checking for outstanding warrants or parole and bail violations.
"You can certainly police them and make it a hostile environment for them to operate or conduct that type of business," Mr Goldsworthy said.
Mr Cartwright said ACT policing will target bikie assets, bikes, cars and houses.
"This is unacceptable. I am angry about it," he said.
Mr Goldsworthy said it would be interesting to know what gangs were involved to help gauge the level of violence to be expected.
The ACT government signed a $655 million agreement with the AFP on Monday to provide police to the territory for the next four years, formally outlining terrorism as their priority but not bikie related violence.
"That just astounds me to be honest," Mr Goldsworthy said.
"There's strong links between terrorism and organised crime. Organised crime should honestly be part of that approach for that reason."
Mr Cartwright said OMCG numbers in the ACT remained stable and told anyone looking at joining a gang to reconsider.
"This is what happens: your house will be shot at, your family will be put in danger, you will have the police coming after you," Mr Cartwright said.
"You can watch Sons of Anarchy all you want."
Police called for members of the public to come forward with any information they may have.
