Halloween bike rally causes chaos on North Solihull streets

SEIZED: Police have confiscated ten bikes, some of which were brought to
a stop using "stinger" devices.

UP to 100 bikers attacked a police van in Chelmsley Wood last night, after a mass rally descended into violence.

The motorcyclists had surrounded the vehicle in Yorkminster Drive, kicking at wing mirrors and attempting to smash the windows.

The gang, many of them masked, had only sped away after back-up had arrived at the scene.

Residents on the estate reported dozens of riders gathering on local streets around 9pm, with one eyewitness describing how the crowds brought nearby Moorend Avenue to "a standstill." Another likened the scenes to "like something from a Mad Max film."

There were also reports of the bikers racing through Marston Green, Castle Bromwich and other neighbouring areas.

One resident, reacting on Facebook, said: "What a stupid night to be out riding like idiots when there's little kids 'trick or treating' in the dark with dark clothing on. Just mindless."

The incidents were part of an event which had been advertised on social media as a "Halloween Ride Out" and involved hundreds of motorcyclists tearing along busy roads and through residential areas.

Police said the group had caused chaos around Birmingham and Solihull, jumping red lights, weaving in and out of traffic and performing dangerous stunts. There were even reports of bikers throwing fireworks at other motorists.

Five men and two male youths have been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, causing a public nuisance and motoring offences.

Chief Insp Jack Hadley, from West Midlands Police, described the behaviour as "loutish and criminal".

"Bikers were riding without lights, at speed, dangerously, pulling wheelies in the street, mounting pavements and damaging vehicles," he said.

"This kind of ‘event’ is outrageous and totally unacceptable and I sympathise with any members of the public that were inconvenienced by the bikers."

The rally was the latest in a series of incidents involving off-road bikes and motorcycles and comes only a matter of weeks after Solihull Council obtained an injunction which imposed a borough-wide ban on street  racing.

Some locals have accused the authorities of not doing more to intervene, but Chief Insp Hadley said that such incidents pose considerable challenges for officers on the ground.

"It is very difficult to plan for outbursts like this... we saw small groups of bikers speeding off in all directions. It is very hard for officers to try and contain that activity."