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Hells Angels banned by Dutch court in strike against biker gangs Hells Angels banned by Dutch court in biker gang crackdown
(32 minutes later)
Dutch judges have banned the biker club Hells Angels and ordered all its chapters to close in the Netherlands as authorities pursue a clampdown on outlaw motorcycle gangs.Dutch judges have banned the biker club Hells Angels and ordered all its chapters to close in the Netherlands as authorities pursue a clampdown on outlaw motorcycle gangs.
The country-wide ban is a first for the club, which operates 470 chapters in 56 countries.The country-wide ban is a first for the club, which operates 470 chapters in 56 countries.
“The Hells Angels is a danger to the public order,” a court in the central Dutch city of Utrecht ruled. The court said one of the reason it was banning the Hells Angels was because it was "a one-percenter club, a club of outlaws” “The Hells Angels is a danger to the public order,” a court in Utrecht ruled. The court said one of the reasons it was banning the Hells Angels was because it was “a one-percenter club, a club of outlaws”, citing a slogan used by biker gangs rejecting the authority of national laws.
, citing a slogan used by biker gangs rejecting the authority of national laws or societal norms.
Hells Angels at DawnHells Angels at Dawn
The ban of the Hells Angels, founded in the late 1940s in California, US, is the latest attempt by Dutch authorities to shut down motorcycle gangs. The same court in 2017 banned the Hells Angels’ arch-rivals, the Bandidos. The ban on the Hells Angels, founded in the 1940s in California, is the latest attempt by Dutch authorities to shut down motorcycle gangs. The same court in 2017 banned the Hells Angels’ arch-rivals, the Bandidos.
Last year, Dutch judges banned the homegrown club Satudarah, saying it had been involved for years in criminal activities, “including violence against other motorcycle clubs, manufacturing and trafficking of narcotics, illegal possession of weapons, and extortion”. Last year, Dutch judges also banned the homegrown club Satudarah, saying it had been involved for years in criminal activities, “including violence against other motorcycle clubs, manufacturing and trafficking of narcotics, illegal possession of weapons, and extortion”.
The ruling referred to the patches, also known as “colours”, on the cut-off vests of the Hells Angels, which were handed out to members who committed “serious violence”, the court said.
It added: “The Hells Angels’ profile is that of the largest and most powerful motorbike club. They believe other clubs should listen to them and that leads to long-running conflicts.”It added: “The Hells Angels’ profile is that of the largest and most powerful motorbike club. They believe other clubs should listen to them and that leads to long-running conflicts.”
Dutch prosecutors, who have been trying for more than a decade to have the club banned, referred to an incident in the southern town of Kerkrade, where a cafe frequented by the Bandidos was set on fire in 2015. Dutch prosecutors, who had been trying for more than a decade to have the club banned, referred to an incident in the southern town of Kerkrade, where a cafe frequented by the Bandidos was set on fire in 2015.
In another incident the following year, Hells Angels members were involved in a massive brawl in the restaurant of a Rotterdam hotel – allegedly with members of another rival club – where shots were fired. In another incident the following year, Hells Angels members were involved in a mass brawl in the restaurant of a Rotterdam hotel – allegedly with members of another rival club – where shots were fired.
The ban comes as 17 club members were arrested in Portugal last week for “threatening national security”. The ban comes after 17 club members were arrested in Portugal last week for “threatening national security”.
The bikers join 41 others, who were being held since July 2018, after a group of attacked a rival club in a Lisbon suburb last year. The bikers join 41 others who were being held since July 2018 after a group attacked a rival club in a Lisbon suburb last year.
NetherlandsNetherlands
GangsGangs
EuropeEurope
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