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| Waco biker shoot-out: 192 face charges in Texas | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Texas police say 192 people are to face organised crime charges after the Waco bike-gang shooting that left nine people dead and 18 others injured. | Texas police say 192 people are to face organised crime charges after the Waco bike-gang shooting that left nine people dead and 18 others injured. |
| The feud broke out between several gangs at a shopping district in Waco. | The feud broke out between several gangs at a shopping district in Waco. |
| What started as a fist fight soon descended into a battle with knives, clubs, chains and eventually guns. | What started as a fist fight soon descended into a battle with knives, clubs, chains and eventually guns. |
| One witness described the scene as "a war zone", while a Waco policeman called it the most gruesome scene he had encountered in his career. | One witness described the scene as "a war zone", while a Waco policeman called it the most gruesome scene he had encountered in his career. |
| The incident happened shortly after midday on Sunday at the Twin Peaks Sports Bar and Grill in a shopping area called the Central Texas Market Place. | The incident happened shortly after midday on Sunday at the Twin Peaks Sports Bar and Grill in a shopping area called the Central Texas Market Place. |
| Up to five rival gangs got into a fight, apparently over parking space near the restaurant. Diners and staff at the nearby cafe managed to lock themselves in a freezer room for safety and were later escorted off the premises by armed police. | Up to five rival gangs got into a fight, apparently over parking space near the restaurant. Diners and staff at the nearby cafe managed to lock themselves in a freezer room for safety and were later escorted off the premises by armed police. |
| "Twenty-five feet away there were families," Waco police sergeant Patrick Swanton said. | "Twenty-five feet away there were families," Waco police sergeant Patrick Swanton said. |
| "This is one of the worst gunfights we've ever had in the city limits. They started shooting at our officers." | "This is one of the worst gunfights we've ever had in the city limits. They started shooting at our officers." |
| In addition to announcing the large number of arrests, Waco police department said on Monday they had temporarily closed the Twin Peaks restaurant for at least a week "due to the ongoing danger it presents to our community". | In addition to announcing the large number of arrests, Waco police department said on Monday they had temporarily closed the Twin Peaks restaurant for at least a week "due to the ongoing danger it presents to our community". |
| The authorities have increased security in the area to prevent further outbreaks of violence, as there are fears some of the gang members might return. | The authorities have increased security in the area to prevent further outbreaks of violence, as there are fears some of the gang members might return. |
| Who are the gangs who lost members in the shoot-out? | Who are the gangs who lost members in the shoot-out? |
| The Bandidos | The Bandidos |
| The Cossacks | The Cossacks |
| Sources: US Department of Justice, Bandidos MC, The One-Percenter Encyclopedia | Sources: US Department of Justice, Bandidos MC, The One-Percenter Encyclopedia |
| Who are the biker gangs? | |
| The world's deadliest bike gang wars | |
| Sgt Swanton said preliminary findings indicated that a dispute had broken out in a bathroom and eventually spilled over into the restaurant car park. | Sgt Swanton said preliminary findings indicated that a dispute had broken out in a bathroom and eventually spilled over into the restaurant car park. |
| "I was amazed that we didn't have innocent civilians killed or injured," Sgt Swanton said. | "I was amazed that we didn't have innocent civilians killed or injured," Sgt Swanton said. |
| "In 34 years of law enforcement, this is the most violent crime scene I have ever been involved in," he added. | "In 34 years of law enforcement, this is the most violent crime scene I have ever been involved in," he added. |
| A spokesman for McLennan County Court in Waco said the 192 people were being formally charged at the local jail, and that processing the large number of cases was proving to be "a big, big deal". |