Police fear renewed biker violence
Police have expressed concerns that a violent confrontation between Sweden's international biker gangs may be just around the corner as a third club threatens to undermine the dominance of the Hells Angels and Bandidos.
Since June, police have identified the emergence of seven new groups allied to the US-based Outlaws, Dagens Nyheter reports.
Going under the name Loyalty BFL Sweden, branches have been set up during the summer in Stockholm, Malmö, Skurup, Växjö, Tranås, Njuv and Sjöbo.
The group is reported to consist of around fifty members between the ages of 20 and 35. A numer of members have previous convictions for offences such as murder and assault. Many also have connections to extreme right-wing organizations.
One former member of the Outlaws is in no doubt that Loyalty BFL Sweden is a front group for the larger organization.
"My interpretation is that the leadership wants to pick a fight with the Hells Angels and Bandidos and hopes that Loyalty BLF will do the job," he told Dagens Nyheter.
There have already been signs that the more well-established gangs are less than happy with recent developments. In June, for example, two men with ties to the Outlaws were stabbed by Bandidos members in Norrtälje.
"We can be sure of one thing: the Outlaws' expansion has irked both the Bandidos and Hells Angels," police spokesman Thord Modin told Dagens Nyheter.
"There is a risk that we will see more violence between the organizations," he added.
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Since June, police have identified the emergence of seven new groups allied to the US-based Outlaws, Dagens Nyheter reports.
Going under the name Loyalty BFL Sweden, branches have been set up during the summer in Stockholm, Malmö, Skurup, Växjö, Tranås, Njuv and Sjöbo.
The group is reported to consist of around fifty members between the ages of 20 and 35. A numer of members have previous convictions for offences such as murder and assault. Many also have connections to extreme right-wing organizations.
One former member of the Outlaws is in no doubt that Loyalty BFL Sweden is a front group for the larger organization.
"My interpretation is that the leadership wants to pick a fight with the Hells Angels and Bandidos and hopes that Loyalty BLF will do the job," he told Dagens Nyheter.
There have already been signs that the more well-established gangs are less than happy with recent developments. In June, for example, two men with ties to the Outlaws were stabbed by Bandidos members in Norrtälje.
"We can be sure of one thing: the Outlaws' expansion has irked both the Bandidos and Hells Angels," police spokesman Thord Modin told Dagens Nyheter.
"There is a risk that we will see more violence between the organizations," he added.
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