Police swarm over bikie funeral

The Sydney funeral of a member of one of Australia¿s biggest and most notorious bikie gangs has attracted hundreds of police, heightening tensions between the Bandidos Club and the authorities.

The Sydney funeral of a member of one of Australia¿s biggest and most notorious bikie gangs has attracted hundreds of police, heightening tensions between the Bandidos Club and the authorities.

Three police helicopters, dozens of squad cars and traffic police on motor cycles as well as riot squad members patrolled the streets around Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Greystanes in the city’s west, as more than 200 Bandidos attended the funeral of bikie Ken Tanti.

Tanti, 48, was killed in the grounds of the same church last week when he drove into a stationary car.

Relations between bikie gangs in Sydney and police have deteriorated in recent weeks after a series of shootings and arson attacks across the city, which are thought to be related to a turf war over drug distribution networks in inner city night clubs.

Police had met with senior members of the Bandidos before today’s funeral. They had been told that while police had previously turned a blind eye to the bikie funeral tradition of riding without helmets, anyone riding in such a fashion today would be fined.

About 70 bikies rode behind Tanti’s coffin to the church, and then after the service, to a nearby cemetery. All riders in the funeral procession wore helmets.

A NSW police spokeswoman said Commissioner Ken Moroney had this morning delivered a special briefing to the 350 police who will be involved in the 24 hour Operation Allegra. Police will monitor the behaviour of the bikie group until about 6am tomorrow.

“The commissioner warned police not to under estimate the bikies. He said that they are criminal gangs and that police should not be fooled by them,” the spokeswoman said.