Rival biker gangs are fighting for supremacy on streets all across the UK – with the latest tragedy being the killing of a 56-year-old family man rider in a mass brawl.
Groups with names such as the Hells Angels, the Bandidos and the Vikings have been fiercely at odds with each other in Britain’s equivalent of similar clashes in the US – with recent clashes in places including south Wales, Surrey and Sussex.
Anthony Jones, 56, known as Tony, died after being found face down in an alleyway following the fight in Pontnewynydd, near Pontypool, south Wales on August 6 – and police have said they believe a row between rival biker gangs was involved.
Two other people were taken to hospital after the carnage, said to have involved about 20 people armed with machetes and other weapons.
A total of 25 men, aged between 18 and 73, have now been arrested in connection with the incident.
Police had previously appealed for information over the whereabouts of Anthony Paul Jones, 40, thought to have been driving a blue Ford Transit van, in connection with the murder.
They said on Friday the van had now been located and a 40-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder.
Gwent Police believe the ‘violent disorder’ was a result of a rivalry between motorcycle clubs Hells Angels and the Vikings.
Anthony Jones, 56, known as Tony, died after being found face down in an alleyway following the fight in Pontnewynydd, near Pontypool, south Wales on August 6
The brawl is thought to have been the result of a turf war between Hells Angels and Vikings motorcycle clubs (Pictured: Hells Angels members in England)
Red Chiefs biker and grandfather David Crawford, 59, was hit by a van and dragged for nearly one mile in May 2022
The two organisations have a longstanding history of violence and attacks on one another across Britain – while a series of other groups have also been waging war.
A Facebook account believed to belong to the deceased Mr Jones shared posts referring to Hells Angels and its nickname, 81.
Alongside family photos are pictures showing he had the initials ‘AFFA’ tattooed across one hand – recognised as standing for ‘Angels forever, forever angels’.
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The fight, which took place at about 7.15pm last Thursday outside the British Legion Club in the village, saw one group ‘tool up’ with machetes, axes and hammers, residents have said.
Around 20 people across the two groups were said to have been involved as they clashed opposite a children’s playground.
Locals claimed some of the men had taped machetes to their hands to stop them from losing their grip.
Mr Jones, who lived some 30 miles away in Brecon according to social media, was found on the ground with a head wound and was given CPR, witnesses said.
Armed police, a police helicopter and multiple ambulances rushed to the scene.
It is thought the violence erupted due to a turf war between the two clubs.
Vikings and Hells Angels are not the only clubs to have a presence in south Wales – others include the Celtic Wolves and Valley Commandos.
The Hells Angels are reported to have a global membership of more than 6,000 bikers, across almost 60 nations – and with 16 regional chapters across Britain.
The Vikings used to be called the Hells Angels Vikings, after forming in 1969, before becoming known simply as the Vikings six years later.
There have been previous violent scenes in recent years across the UK between branches of Hells Angels and the Vikings.
In October 2022, a mob of three Hells Angels members ambushed a group of Vikings on the A24 in Findon, West Sussex, in a revenge attack.
Tony Jones, 56, was killed during a mass brawl in Pontnewynydd, near Pontypool, Wales last Thursday
Shown is clothing worn by David Crawford, ripped following a crash that killed him in Plymouth in May 2022. Mr Crawford belonged to the Red Devils club, affiliated with Hells Angels
Forensic officers examine the scene outside Pontnewynydd Sports and Social Club, which also serves as a British Legion club, following the mass brawl
They left a man fighting for his life after stabbing him, stamping on him and hitting him with a baton.
Callum Shaw was jailed for 17 years while Barry Brown and Daniel Kent were jailed for three years, with a further 12 months for Kent for committing a burglary at a Vikings clubhouse.
Four years earlier, seven men linked to Hells Angels and Red Devils clubs were jailed for an attack on members of the Vikings and Wargs Brotherhood clubs – each sentenced to 14 years in prison.
And in May 2022, David Crawford, of the Red Devils club – affiliated with Hells Angels – was killed after being knocked from his bike by three members of rivals Bandidos.
Benjamin Parry, Thomas Pawley and Chad Brading were in a Ford Transit which knocked Crawford from his vehicle and dragged him along the road for a mile in Plymouth.
Parry was sentenced to 12 years in prison, which was later appealed and increased to 15, while Pawley and Brading were both sentenced to four years.
And in 2024 biker Daniel Laponder left a pipe bomb under a van during a biker feud in Scotland.
Laponder targeted David Rollo because his son was a member of the Blue Angels Motorcycle Club.
Laponder, who formed a breakaway biker faction, was jailed for nine years in 2024.
The High Court in Glasgow heard Laponder planted a viable pipe bomb under a BT Open Reach van which was used by Mr Rollo.
Laponder drenched the van in petrol and then used a remote device to set off the bomb, which contained ball bearings.
On sentencing, Judge Lord Arthurson told Laponder: ‘The background circumstances of the index offending are somewhat bizarre, stemming as they appear to from a feud between the Blue Angels Motorcycle Club and the Mad Dogs Motorcycle Club, a rival gang which was set up by you after you left the Blue Angels.
‘That said, the crimes committed by you were of considerable gravity.’
A hardened criminal previously told the Daily Mail that a ‘fragile truce’ between warring UK biker gangs had been hanging by a thread and ‘could go either way’.
The construction worker from Merseyside has been a member of a notorious biker club for the last decade, and has served out a raft of prison sentences for violence.
The father, who asked not to be named, said although violence between rival clubs had calmed, things could change quickly.
He said: ‘I would describe it as a fragile truce right now. Moving forward things could go either way, which is interesting.’
The biker admitted that serious violence could break out between rival British biker clubs.
The latest victim Tony Jones’ Facebook profile is peppered with references to Hells Angels, featuring this image of their moniker, 81
Biker Daniel Laponder left a pipe bomb under a van during a biker feud in Scotland in 2024
Daniel Laponder, former leader of the Blue Angels outlaw motorcycle gang, was caught with sawn off shotguns and improvised explosive devices before being jailed in 2024
The Merseyside-based bike rider who spoke to the Daily Mail last year said some biker clubs attracted recruits for the wrong reasons.
He said: ‘Yes, you get the mid-life crisis blokes. They wake up one day and realise they have done nothing with their lives and want some danger.
‘I can spot them a mile off. And before you know it they are roaring around on bikes and partying with strippers.
‘Then they are back in the office the next morning with a shirt and tie on. I just found all that really odd and quite funny.
‘And then you get the blokes you have bullied all their lives. They want to be around bikers for protection and to feel safe.’
A street brawl broke out in 2024 between two rival factions in Sheffield. A passing driver filmed the pitched battle, when bikers could be seen brandishing baseball bats and fighting in the street.
The biker said: ‘So the Satan’s Slaves attacked the Mongols, who were in their clubhouse.
‘I was told that the Slaves came second best, and couple of their lads were badly hurt. One of them only recently came out of hospital.’
Last year a street brawl broke out between two rival factions in Sheffield. A passing driver filmed the battle, when bikers were seen brandishing baseball bats and fighting in the street
Other UK biker gang feuds have included the Hells Angels’ Wolverhampton chapter and the Derby-based Road Tramps, over a control of an annual motorcycle festival founded by the latter group in 1983.
The Wolverhampton group also brawled in the early 1990s with neighbouring Birmingham’s Cycle Ramps gang.
Seven prospective members of the Hells Angels were jailed in October 2019 for a total of 98 years over a ‘turf war’ attack on a rival gang in a sleepy Home Counties village.
Six people were stabbed at the Forman Institute in Blindley Heath, Surrey, on November 7 2018.
A group of masked men, believed to number 13 in total, stormed the venue armed with knives, baseball bats, and other weapons including an industrial cable.
The Vikings Motorcycle Club and its support group, the Wargs Brotherhood, had been at an outbuilding known as ‘The Shud’ for a meeting.
Six people were stabbed and one assaulted there, leaving the site as a ‘scene of bloody carnage’.
Seven of the attackers were convicted in July following a seven-week trial at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court.
Passing sentence, Judge John described the nighttime attack as an ‘appalling piece of gratuitous planned violence’, noting that each defendant had continued to protest their innocence despite conviction.
Benjamin Parry, Chad Brading and Thomas Pawley were convicted following David Crawford’s death – they claimed they wanted to speak to him as he wore a Red Chief jacket on their patch
Plymouth Crown Court heard the three men were members of Plymouth Bandidos, while Mr Crawford was affiliated to the Red Chiefs. Pictured: Bandidos clothing
The trial heard defendants wanted to ‘deal with’ the Vikings so the Hells Angels could set up a new chapter in Surrey.
This was said to have initially been done through an attempt to entice to Wargs to switch their affiliation from the Vikings to the Hells Angels.
Elsewhere, a gang on motorbikes were accused of killing a young man in a ‘targeted execution’ which led to scenes of a ‘bloodbath’ in a village, according to locals.
Horrified neighbours said the victim was ‘ambushed’ outside the Spring Tavern pub in Ewell, Surrey, before collapsing outside The Wheatsheaf, just a few hundred yards away.
Locals said ‘at least two men’ were responsible and arrived and fled the scene on bikes.
Alfonso Sibley, 23, was allegedly ambushed by the duo as he went to sell some cannabis one afternoon, almost a fortnight before Christmas last year.
Mr Sibley stumbled to a nearby pub where staff and customers tried to save his life but died from his injuries in a pool of blood a short time later.
A teenager accused of the killing, 15 at the time but since turning 16, was acquitted at Kingston Crown Court last month of murder, manslaughter and conspiracy to commit robbery
Alfonso Sibley, 23, was stabbed to death in Ewell in Surrey on December 9 last year
Horrified neighbours said the victim was ‘ambushed’ outside the Spring Tavern pub in Ewell, before collapsing outside The Wheatsheaf, just a few hundred yards away
Two other boys, 15 and 17, were cleared of conspiracy to commit robbery.
Senior investigating officer Laura Bartley, who is leading the probe into Anthony Jones’s death last week, said on Friday: ‘Firstly our thoughts remain with the family of Anthony “Tony” Jones at this difficult time for them.
‘We have since launched a murder investigation, resulting in a significant number of arrests for people who we believe are connected to the initial report of violent disorder.
‘We can now also provide an update on our earlier appeals where we asked the public to assist our enquires regarding the whereabouts of a Ford Transit van and a man from the Blaenavon area.
‘The Ford Transit van was located outside of the Gwent area and we’re currently assessing the van to establish how it relates to our investigation.
‘Officers have also located Anthony Paul Jones and we will be speaking to him in connection with our enquiries.
‘We understand that this complex investigation has caused substantial disruption within our communities since it was reported to us.
‘We are extremely grateful for the patience, support and co-operation shown by our communities while this work continues.’
She had previously stated: ‘At this stage of our enquiries, we believe the violent disorder involved members of two rival outlaw motorcycle clubs, the Vikings and the Hells Angels.
‘Establishing the extent of involvement of those connected to the incident remains a key focus of the investigation.
‘We understand this incident will cause significant concern within the community. I would like to reassure the public that officers and staff are working around the clock to progress this investigation, identify everyone involved and bring those responsible before the courts.
‘We are extremely grateful for the patience, support and co-operation shown by our communities while this work continues.
‘Our thoughts remain with the family of the victim, who continue to be supported by specially trained officers.’
Mr Jones’s family issued a statement in tribute to him on Thursday afternoon, describing him as ‘first and foremost, a much-loved husband and devoted dad’.
They added: ‘To us, he wasn’t a name in a news story – he was our Anthony and the hole he has left in our family is impossible to put into words.
‘He was incredibly hardworking and always made sure his family was provided for.’
They told how his wife Sarah and their children were ‘at the centre of his world and he absolutely doted on them’, while he was also affectionately known to his grandchild with the name ‘Grumpy’.
The statement issued via Gwent Police went on to say: ‘Anthony was always up for a laugh and loved nothing more than spending time with his family.
‘We have so many happy memories of days out together, but some of our most treasured memories are the simplest ones – at home, music playing, laughing and dancing together during one of our many kitchen discos.
‘Our lives have changed forever. Sarah has lost her husband and the children have lost their dad, and they are trying to comprehend a future they never imagined having to face.
‘We understand there will be public interest surrounding Anthony’s death, but we ask people to remember that behind everything being written and spoken about is a grieving family.
‘Whatever else may be said, nothing changes the husband, father and Grumpy Anthony was to his family or how deeply he was loved.
‘Anthony will be loved and missed more than words can ever express.
‘We will hold onto the laughter, the family days out, the kitchen discos and all the memories we were lucky enough to make together.’
Anyone with information is asked to contact police quoting log reference 2600255536, by calling 101, visiting Gwent Police’s website or reaching out via social media.
Information can also be passed on anonymously through Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.
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