Brisbane shootings linked to bikie gang

Queensland police are investigating whether shots fired overnight at a Bandidos clubhouse and a tattoo shop linked to the motorcycle group, are connected with earlier bikie raids. A police taskforce has been formed to probe the two Brisbane shootings early on Monday. About five shots were fired into the Bandidos clubhouse in Woolloongabba about 4am (AEST), with some bullets hitting a neighbouring restaurant. Eight minutes later, shots were fired into the Inksanity tattoo parlour at Milton. Detective Inspector Garry Watts told reporters the tattoo parlour has links to the Bandidos but declined to elaborate. About 30 minutes after the shootings, a Mazda 6 sedan was set on fire not far from Milton in Mt Coot-tha. Det Insp Watts says police are looking into whether the car was used in the shootings but he said at this stage it was unclear whether they are dealing with driveby shootings. "The first two incidents have Bandidos motorcycle gang links and then a vehicle totally consumed by fire a short distance away is something to look at," Det Insp Watts said. He said so far police had no witnesses, but the Bandidos club is co-operating with police. Detectives are looking into whether previous bikie violence could have sparked the latest shootings, he said. "... we will be looking at whether these incidents have anything to do with other incidents we are currently investigating," Det Insp Watts said. "At this stage we don't know who is behind this current shooting." He warned bikie members not to take the law into their own hands and attempt to retaliate. "These things have a tendency to be tit-for-tat; whether there is going to be any retaliation is unknown," he said. Asked what advice he had for Bandidos and other bikies, he said: "I would consider it very carefully as to whether (retaliating) is worthwhile." He said police were concerned more innocent people could become accidental victims of bikie attacks, as happened on the Gold Coast in April. A gunman shot a 42-year-old man, believed to be senior Bandidos member Jacques Teamo, and a 53-year-old woman bystander at Robina Town Centre on the Gold Coast on April 28.