Portugal is suing 89 Hells Angels - including a Belgian - after raid at restaurant in Lisbon
kv July 11, 2019 8:32 pm Source: Reuters, Ministerio Publico Portugal

The Portuguese authorities are suing 89 members of the motorcycle gang Hells Angels for their involvement in organized crime, attempted murder, robbery and drug trafficking. The public prosecutor's office is announcing this today.
According to the public prosecutor, the Hells Angels in March 2018, armed with knives, axes and batons, committed a raid at restaurant Prior Velho in Loures, a municipality near Lisbon. About 20 Hells Angels got hit with members of 'Red & Gold' there. They would have links with motorcycle club 'Bandidos', the arch-enemies of the Hells Angels. The Hells Angels tried to kill four people there. Other people present were injured. The restaurant was completely destroyed during the attack. The raid took place in the context of a gang war over the control of illegal arms and drug trafficking.

The charges are the result of a lengthy investigation in which dozens of Hells Angels have already been arrested in Portugal and abroad. A Belgian Hells Angel was arrested in the Algarve last month due to his suspected involvement in the raid. He is suspected of attempted murder.

Of the 89 suspects, 37 are in custody, five are in electronic custody at home and two of them are in jail in Germany, waiting to be extradited to Portugal. The bikers are also charged with extortion and illegal possession of weapons.

The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club was founded in 1948 in the United States and has branches all over the world, including in Portugal since 2002.