Growing feud within the Mongols may lead to further violence on Melbourne’s streets
Infighting among defected Finks and the newer members of the Mongols bikie gang has caused a dangerous rift in the club, creating a deadly tit-for-tat on Melbourne’s streets.
Police & Courts
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A growing feud within the Mongols motorcycle gang has police fearing violence will erupt on the streets of Melbourne.
A dangerous rift has developed in the club between old Finks members who moved over to the Mongols and newer members and associates including former Bandido enforcer Toby Mitchell.
Shane Bowden, a former Sergeant at Arms of the Mongols, was recently kicked out of the gang just 15 days after he was released from Loddon prison.
The 47-year-old was injured in a drive-by shooting on July 1 in an Epping driveway, which is suspected to have been an inside job.
Sources said the hit was organised to “silence” Bowden and to “put him in his place” by opposing members of the gang.
“The shooting is going to cause a lot of tension,” a source said.
In 2013 the Mongols carried out a widescale “patch-over’’ of the Finks, including the rebadging of its Victorian chapter.
Bowden was once a senior figure in the Finks Motorcycle Club.
Mitchell joined the Mongols in April last year.
The Sunday Herald Sun is not suggesting Mitchell is involved in the shooting.
News of the escalating dispute has sparked the involvement from the Mongols American branch of the gang, said to be unhappy about the internal fighting.
Detective Inspector Graham Banks from the bikie-busting Echo Taskforce appealed for information about what police suspect was a targeted attack on Bowden.
“Whenever there is a matter involving OMCGs there is always opposing parties,” Det Insp Banks said.
“If it (this shooting) is OMCG related, there will have people who have knowledge of it and not necessarily happy with what has happened.
“Detectives are trying to establish the motive and also the persons involved.”
Investigators said they had spoken to the victim on “several” occasions and revealed he was with two other men at the time he was shot.
“Police treat these matters seriously – it is extremely concerning,” Det Insp Banks said.
“It just goes to the recklessness of some people and lack of concern generally for community.
“When you’ve got a firearms incident of any nature it is concerning, particularly where you’ve got a person injured and there’s potential for someone to be killed.”
Detectives have released CCTV in which shots are heard and a white BMW coupe is seen fleeing the scene after Bowden was hit by gunfire.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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