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Austrian investigators have seized hundreds of firearms, several kilos of illegal drugs and an array of Nazi paraphernalia following a raid of a notorious biker gang. Members of the Bandidos
Motorcycle Club face various firearms, narcotics, and World War II-related charges after the raids of 13 properties linked to the group. As in Germany, since the war, many Nazi-era fascist
symbols such as the swastika are illegal in Austria. The raids took place on Monday, June 26, but law enforcement announced the haul on Thursday. Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard
Karner, speaking at a press conference, thanked investigators for their “excellent” work. “The Interior Ministry is moving against any form of extremism resolutely, decisively and with
vigor,” he said. “This case shows once again how comprehensively and sustainably the democratic coexistence in our country is protected, and how extremism — regardless of whether
politically or religiously motivated — is combated with all vehemence.” Austria’s internal intelligence agency said hundreds of guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition were found during
the raids. The statement read: “During the house searches of June 26, alone, roughly 35 long guns [guns designed to be used with both hands, like rifles or long-barrel shotguns], 25 machine
pistols, 100 pistols, more than 1,000 weapon parts, roughly 400 signal guns and more than 10,000 rounds of ammunition, as well as grenade launchers and smoke grenade launchers were seized.”
Police also found various Nazi paraphernalia such as swastika flags, military uniforms and helmets, as well as roughly one kilogram (2.2 pounds) of cocaine and roughly five kilos of
cannabis. Thirteen properties were searched in all this week, in the states of Upper and Lower Austria. Six people were arrested. Austrian law enforcement said that the Bandidos had been
on their radar since December of last year, “after it became known that the Bandidos MC was seeking to expand to Austria and would like to set up bases, so-called chapters, here”. They were
first put on alert, they said, because, “in Switzerland, similar developments in the past led to violent clashes between the Bandidos and the Hells Angels MC members located there”. The
Bandidos Motorcycle Club is the second largest in the world by membership, behind the Hells Angels. Although both are nominally global movements and although their international chapters
appear to coordinate, neither group has a formal international parent body. Both originate in the US - the Hells Angels originally in California, and Bandidos in San Juan, Texas.