SA:SA cops give bikie violence top priority

AAP General News (Australia)
12-23-2011
SA:SA cops give bikie violence top priority

ADELAIDE, Dec 23 AAP - Bikie violence across Adelaide has been given top priority by
police amid fears innocent people will be hurt, South Australian Police Commissioner Mal
Hyde says.

In his first public statement since a series of shootings, Mr Hyde said police were
particularly concerned about violence in public places.

"In particular police are closely monitoring conflict within the Comancheros outlaw
motorcycle gang," he said on Friday.

"Additional resources have been provided to the Crime Gangs Task Force to investigate
recent shooting incidents."

In the most serious incident, members of the Comancheros engaged in a shoot-out in
a city restaurant last Sunday, sending patrons ducking for cover.

Police believe it was sparked by an internal dispute and no other gangs were involved.

A small group were at Caffe Paesano where they were approached by a man.

Police won't confirm who fired the first shot, but witnesses told media outlets that
the man who approached the group began the shooting and was then shot in the leg as others
returned fire.

On Tuesday, police released images of the injured man, seeking public help to identify him.

Mr Hyde said detectives now knew who he was but were yet to track him down.

In other incidents, the head of the Comancheros, Vince Focarelli, was shot in the leg
in a third attempt on his life in recent years.

Detectives were also continuing to investigate the shooting in September of the son
of a former senior Finks member when several masked men burst into the man's home and
opened fire.

The boy was hit and treated for his wounds in hospital.

It remains unclear if he was the intended target of the attack.

As part of the investigation, 80 police this week raided 11 commercial and residential
properties connected with the Finks.

They seized guns and ammunition, including one military-style semi-automatic rifle,
as well as drugs and cash.

Five people were arrested and charged with a variety of offences.

AAP tjd/mp/goc/

KEYWORD: SHOTS

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