Bandidos bikie shot during national run in Ballarat

A 29-year-old office-bearer from the bikie gang is in hospital after a dispute near the gang’s stronghold ended in bloodshed.

Friction among Bandidos preceded the shooting of a senior member of the outlaw motorcycle gang in Ballarat.

The local office-bearer wound up in hospital after a dispute near the gang’s stronghold in the goldfields city ended in bloodshed in the early hours of Sunday.

Bandidos from all over in Australia descended on Ballarat over the weekend for their annual run.

The incident is believed to have happened near the gang’s Ballarat chapter headquarters in the suburb of Delacombe.

A Bandidos bikie gang member has been shot during the group’s national run in Ballarat. Picture: NCA NewsWire

Bandidos roar into Ballarat for the national run. Picture: NCA NewsWire

The Herald Sun has been told there had been unresolved issues among members from Ballarat and beyond in recent times.

It is unclear exactly what happened on the weekend, somewhere near the Greenbank Court headquarters, where members from around the nation had gathered.

But it ended with a 29-year-old from Sebastopol, in Ballarat, being shot.

He took himself to hospital at 1.20am, probably to avoid attracting the attention of police by calling an ambulance.

Bandidos gang member from around Australia gather at Lazy Moe’s in Ballarat. Picture: NCA NewsWire

Bandidos members were warned police would take swift action to crack down on any illegal activity. Picture: NCA NewsWire

That man is believed to be a local sergeant-at-arms for the gang.

The exact location of where he was shot remains unclear.

It is expected to be a challenging investigation because of the customary reluctance of bikies to cooperate with law enforcement.

“Detectives are working to establish the exact circumstances around the incident and the investigation remains ongoing,” a Victoria Police statement said.

The Bandidos are regarded as one of the state’s “big-six” outlaw motorcycle gangs, along with the Hells Angels, Comancheros, Finks, Rebels and Mongols.

Leading Bandidos converged on Ballarat for the get-together, including national boss “Big Tony” Vartiainen.

Members of the Echo and VIPER taskforces also travelled there to monitor the three-day event, which started on Friday.

The bikies were warned last week police would take swift action if any OMCG members were involved in criminal, road safety or public order offences.

Western Region superintendent Frank Sells last week promised police would “not be intimidated” by the riders, with an increased police presence planned across Ballarat for their Bandidos’ arrival.

Ballarat has hosted the Bandidos several times before, with the group hosting its annual general meeting at popular local restaurant Lazy Moe’s in November last year.

That event went off without incident.