Bikie clubhouse in Dandenong South damaged in fire
UPDATE: DETECTIVES from the anti-bikie Echo Taskforce are investigating the cause of a suspicious fire at a Rebels clubhouse in Melbourne’s southeast.
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DETECTIVES from the anti-bikie Echo Taskforce are investigating the cause of a fire at a Rebels clubhouse.
A burnt-out car was suspected of being used by those responsible for the blaze at the clubhouse today.
The CFA sent seven trucks to the factory in Dandenong South just before 4.30am.
About 8 members of the Rebels bikie gang have just arrived at their Dandenong clubhouse which was destroyed by fire this morning pic.twitter.com/WMwONYS712
— Michael Scanlan (@MScanlan7) October 21, 2016
The outlaw motorcycle club’s Dandenong headquarters were declared unsafe.
The fire attack comes after police raided the Dandenong clubhouse earlier this week, along with three other properties in the area, resulting in two Rebels members being arrested and charged.
The Dandenong Magistrates’ Court was told the raids were a response to a recent fight between members of the Rebels and a member of rival gang the Comancheros.
No one was injured in today’s blaze but police rescued a newborn kitten from inside the clubhouse.
Gas cylinders exploded during the fire, which caused significant damage.
The interior of the building was gutted and the roof was partially collapsed.
Eddy Van Der Pligt, who works at a neighbouring construction business, said he heard explosions coming from inside the factory.
“There were a few gas cylinders or something going off and the flames would go a bit higher,” he said.
Detective Sergeant Stephen Finnerty said a car had been driven into the wall of the clubhouse.
It appears the car had been reversed into a roller door before the offenders fled.
Police numbers were boosted later in the morning as preparation for the arrival of Rebels members at 1pm.
The exchange between police and the 10 gang members was tense as the bikies examined the extensive damage to their club house.
Dandenong Magistrates’ Court heard this week that members from the rival gangs had clashed at the Sandown Park Hotel in Noble Park on October 1.
A Rebels bikie was also seen approaching a Comancheros member with a knife.
There was a third clash on October 12 where a Rebels member showed a bag to a Comancheros member.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report to crimestoppers.com.au.