Austin

Austin Police Don't Expect Retribution at Biker Rally

There will be a strong police presence at the Republic of Texas Biker Rally in Austin this weekend in the wake of a deadly biker shootout in Waco, although authorities said they do not expect any violence or retaliation.

Nine people were killed and 18 people were injured in the May 17 incident at a Twin Peaks restaurant in Waco.

Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo said authorities have reached out to bike gang leaders seeking assurances that there will be no attempts at retribution at the Austin event, and they have found no credible intelligence to suggest there will be trouble.

"I take them at their word. That's just the way I operate," Acevedo said. "I don't anticipate any problems."

Austin gang unit officers will attend the rally, which runs Thursday through Sunday and is expected to draw more than 40,000 bikers.

Authorities said plainclothes officers will also be there, as well as downtown and in bars known to be frequented by bikers.

"We're very pleased with (police) plans and endorse and support them," rally president Jerry Braggs said.

While the focus on the event has been related to possible gang activity, Acevedo said his main concern is biker safety and he urged bikers to wear helmets. The Austin American-Statesman reports there were 13 crashes involving motorcycles during the 2014 rally, and that five people were seriously injured.

Copyright The Associated Press
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