Crime Scene Set up in Islington After Suspicious Fire

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Newcastle Police have set up a crime scene at a home in Islington after a fire overnight.

Fire crews were called to the home on Chin Chen Street just after 3am to reports of a fire.

There was no damage to the property after a number of Molotov cocktails at the home - the occupant was awoken by an unknown noise outside and quickly realised what was happening extinguishing the small blaze which had started.

No one was injured.

Police are treating the incident as suspicious - the premises may be linked to a local bikie gang.

Kurri Kurri Drive-By Shooting Thought to Be Bikie Gang Related

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Police have charged a man with firearm offenses for an alleged drive-by shooting in Kurri Kurri earlier this year.

Projectiles were fired into a vehicle and a dwelling in Greta Street at about 1:50am on October 15 - a mother and three children were reportedly asleep in the home at the time. 

Police from the Central Hunter Local Area Command found a partially burnt out Mitsubishi Magna not far from the incident on the same night.

Following extensive inquiries police arrested a 21-year-old man at Tuggerah yesterday and charged him over the incident.

He was charged with fire firearm at dwelling and fire firearm at other than dwelling disregarding safety.

Police believe the incident may have been bikie gang related (OMCG). The man is believed to be a nominee for the Finks.

The 21-year-old will appear at Wyong Local Court today.


EARLIER

Drive-By Shooting At Kurri Kurri

Strike Force Raptor - Banditos gang member arrested

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Strike Force Raptor has struck again in the Hunter, with an associate of the Banditos outlaw motorcycle gang, and his son, charged with firearm offences.

Strike force officers conducted a targeted vehicle stop on a 48 year old man yesterday in Telarah, where shortly after a house was also searched.

A loaded firearm and a magazine, as well as 12-gauge shotgun shells were found at the Brooks Street address - one of the firearms is believed to be a stolen gun from a break-in in 2011.

The 48 year old was arrested and taken to Maitland Police Station and charged with multiple firearm offences.

He was refused bail and will appear at Maitland Local Court later this month.

A 24 year old man was also arrested in Barnsley, where police conducted another search of a home and found multiple firearms and drugs.

The man was charged with multiple firearm and drug offences and refused bail to appear in Toronto Local Court later today.

Charges laid over raids across the Hunter

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The mystery police presence in the Hunter was solved late yesterday with police charging five associates of the Nomads and Finks bikie gangs, after raids across the Hunter before 9am.

Five search warrents were carried out yesterday at properties in Gillieston Heights, Raymond Terrace, Rutherford and two homes in Telarah, which lead to the arrests of five associates of the bikie gangs.

A 23-year old Raymond Terrace man has been charged with 61 offenses including multiple offenses of firearm trafficking and drug offenses. He refused bail to appear in Maitland Local Court today.

A 26-year old Gillieston Heights man was also arrested and charged with 28 offenses to appear in Raymond Terrace Local Court today. A 27-year old Rutherford man has been charged with three offenses including two drug charges and knowingly participating in a criminal group. He was granted conditional bail to appear in Maitland Local Court in December.

Two women were also arrested and charged - a 31 and 32 year old both from Telarah, who will appear in Raymond Terrace and Maitland Local Courts, respectively, today.

The properties were searched and police seized two firearms including a loaded sawn-off shot gun found at the Gillieston Heights property, more than $150, 000 cash, ammunition and electronic stun devices as well as cannabis, methylamphetamine ('ice'), steroids and MDMA. All of which will undergo forensic examination.

The State Crime Command's Gangs Squad Strike Force Wilwendam was established earlier this year to investigate organised crime activity in the Hunter in conjunction with Port Stephens, Central Hunter and Newcastle City Local Area Commands.