Bikie gang terrorises Berri; police block off riverfront

A frightening day for Berri residents, after a large number of bikies decided to show up at the riverfront last Saturday morning. With no announcements of their arrival, local police responded quickly, blocking the roads and persuading pedestrians to avoid the riverfront area.

“They just showed up out of nowhere.”

“It went from a relatively quiet morning into a chaotic congregation of cyclists. We haven’t seen this level of gang activity in Berri in a very long time,” said police spokesman Bryce Ickle.

The bikies remained in the vicinity of the Berri Hotel for most of the morning, with many of them riding up and down the riverfront, taunting police and residents. After this they formed into groups and rode away, leaving police unable to follow them. Berri residents have described the bikie’s actions as ‘careless’ and ‘disrespectful’.

“They just come in like they own the place, absolutely no respect to the town or its people,” said Berri resident Mona Lotte.

Older residents of Berri may remember the time when the ‘Gypsy Jokers’ members invaded the Riverland, and camped out on the Berri Riverfront. With the number of bikies so overwhelmingly large, police were outnumbered and could do nothing but caution residents to avoid the area. Local police have stated that this recent event is ‘much more severe, and larger in numbers’.

“Rest assured, we will be following up on this, and ensuring that those involved in this invasion will be punished by the full extent of the law,” said spokesman Bryce Ickle.

The Riverlanderer will update as this story develops.