THE manager of a Hallam gym which was the scene of a drive-by shooting and a bomb scare on Monday has moved to distance the business from police claims that it is owned by an outlaw motorcycle gang.
Nitro Gym promotions manager Mike Jones said the gym was not owned by bikies. He said it was owned by a Western Australian businessman.
“The gym’s not owned by bikies but anyone’s welcome to train there,” he said.
According to Australian Securities and Investments Commission documents, Michael Murray, the Comancheros state president, was the sole listed director and shareholder of Nitro Gym Pty Ltd up until the company’s voluntary deregistration in July 2008.
The company’s principal place of business was listed as the gym’s current address at Princes Highway Hallam.
Mr Murray was an interested onlooker on Monday, speaking to police at the scene as bomb squad members and robots worked to defuse the two home-made bombs thrown through the gym’s front windows.
Passion 4 Pain, the Dandenong tattoo parlour that was shot up with more than 20 bullets on Monday morning was previously known as Nitro Ink.
Mr Murray is not listed as an office-bearer or shareholder of Nitro Ink Pty Ltd, which is based in Hampton Park.
Victoria Police Acting Deputy Commissioner Steve Fontana said Nitro Gym in Hallam and the Dandenong tattoo parlour – formerly Nitro Ink – were owned by a Comancheros bikie gang office-bearer.
The attacks on Nitro Gym and the Dandenong tattoo parlour occurred within hours of each other early on Monday morning.
Police closed the Princes Highway between the South Gippsland Freeway and Hallam Road on Monday while the bomb squad went in.
ADC Fontana said Hells Angels members were suspected to be responsible, using “high-powered military-style weapons” such as AK-47s and M1 carbines to shoot up the premises as well as a motorcycle gang Rock Machine’s clubhouse in Clayton South and a Bandidos clubhouse in Dandenong in recent weeks.
ADC Fontana called for public help to locate the weapons, fearing an innocent bystander as well as the intended targets could be killed.
He also feared there would be retaliation. A Hells Angels Darkside chapter clubhouse in Seaford was shot up on Monday night.
“We are not going to stand by and let bikies bring firearms and violence into our community and place innocent people and police at risk,” ADC Fontana said.
“We do not want feuding motorcycle gangs on our streets creating fear and thinking they can take the law into their own hands.”
Next door to Nitro Gym is a children’s play centre. Its owner lost lucrative school holiday takings with the estate evacuated by police as two hand-made bombs were defused at the gym on Monday.
Asked if there had been previous trouble at the estate, the owner said: “This is Hallam after all.”
A nearby business owner said groups often met and drank in the estate’s car park late at night.
Another business owner, who moved in four weeks ago, had suffered a smash-and-grab burglary as well as Monday’s drama.
A concrete hydrant was thrown through the business’s front window last week. Computers and cash were stolen during the break-in, the business owner said.
Mr Jones said he was hopeful Nitro Gym would open again before the end of the week.
“It’s going to be a bit hard but we’re letting everyone know when we’re back open,” he said.
“We have to make sure everything’s safe.”
Anyone with information about the incidents is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au
