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Bandidos clubhouse firebombed on Australia Day

POLICE have released dramatic footage of the moment a firebomb explodes at the Bandidos bikie clubhouse on Australia Day.

Bandidos clubhouse firebombing

POLICE have released vision of the moment a firebomb exploded at a bikie clubhouse.

On January 26, just after 2am, two men placed the explosive in a brick alcove, just outside the door of the Bandidos clubhouse on Bayldon Street in Geelong.

After about 30 seconds, the men run away from the door and four seconds later, there’s an explosion.

Police believe the firebomb was made with a power gel detonator attached to a plastic fuel container.

Bandidos Motorcycle Club members leaving their clubhouse in Geelong after inspecting damage caused by early morning bomb explosion 08 Aug 1999. bombing violence bikie gang motor cycling /Motor/cycling
Bandidos Motorcycle Club members leaving their clubhouse in Geelong after inspecting damage caused by early morning bomb explosion 08 Aug 1999. bombing violence bikie gang motor cycling /Motor/cycling
Location of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club (Bayldon Crt, Breakwater) on October 24, 2013 in Geelong, Australia.
Location of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club (Bayldon Crt, Breakwater) on October 24, 2013 in Geelong, Australia.

Police have released the footage they seized from the clubhouse under warrant.

Detective Senior Constable Ashley Hagar, from the Echo Taskforce, a group which investigates outlaw bikie gangs, said they had no information about what was behind the attack.

He said it was dangerous and risky to target the club.

Nobody was in the clubhouse at the time and only the front suffered damage, but debris from the explosion pierced nearby cars.

Damage to the Bandidos building in Breakwater.
Damage to the Bandidos building in Breakwater.

This is not the first time the Bandidos have been victims of an attack.

The Geelong clubhouse was bombed in August 1999 and a car was firebombed outside the home of a Bandidos member.

Location of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club (Bayldon Crt, Breakwater) on October 24, 2013 in Geelong, Australia.
Location of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club (Bayldon Crt, Breakwater) on October 24, 2013 in Geelong, Australia.

In 2007, the Rebels reportedly declared war on the Bandidos in Victoria and the Geelong clubhouse was sprayed with bullets and torched.

Police say they are unsure whether the attacks are linked and it is something they will be investigating.

The two people police are looking for in relation to the Australia Day explosion, parked around the corner from the club, in Leather Street, and police believe the vehicle is the strongest lead at this stage.

The pair was driving a light-coloured dual cab vehicle with a hard canopy on the back and a black snorkel attacked to the driver’s side.

They believe it could be a Toyota HiLux and a model between 2006 and 2014.

Police are investigating the motivation behind the attack and believed it could be a result of an internal or external feud.

Anybody with information about the vehicle or two men should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at crimestoppersvic.com.au.

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/bandidos-clubhouse-firebombed-on-australia-day/news-story/9a4821dbaca9909f763097bc9295acab