Summer-long ban on biker gatherings

The mayors of Lanaken and Maasmechelen, Limburg province, will ban all events organised by the Hells Angels and Outlaws biker gangs this summer, several newspapers report today. The gangs have been involved in a turf war on the Belgo-Dutch border for months. The rivalry between the two biker gangs is not new in this corner of Belgium, but things got significantly worse two years ago when three members of the Outlaws were killed by the Hells Angels. The triple murder is not the only cause for concern for the authorities. Earlier this year, the Hells Angels created a new chapter in Lanaken, resulting in many incidents and fights. "At this time of year, we always step up vigilance," the mayor of Maasmechelen, Raf Terwingen, told De Morgen. "We have put a two-month ban in place after consulting the police and the relevant legal departments," he adds. This ban on all public gatherings for biker gangs came into force earlier this week. It is time to adopt a zero-tolerance policy toward gang warfare, says the mayor of Lanaken, Marino Keulen.