Texas biker gang shooting: Police arrest 192 suspects after mass brawl that left nine dead

A police officer who witnessed the aftermath of a shootout between rival biker gangs in Texas has described it as “one of the most gruesome crime scenes” he has seen in more than three decades.

Sergeant W. Patrick Swanton said the Twin Peaks restaurant was littered with dead bodies, bullet casings, knives, weapons, shattered glass and pools of blood on Sunday night.

At least nine people were killed when fighting broke out between up to 200 bikers who gathered for a meeting in the city of Waco.

Almost 200 suspects have been detained and 18 people were injured in the brawl that sent families fleeing from the suburban shopping centre.

The violence erupted at around noon local time after an argument reportedly started in a toilet and spilled out into the restaurant and then its car park.

A spokesperson for the Waco Police Department said that the nine people killed were all members of the Bandidos and Cossacks biker gangs, believed to be rivals in the local area.

They were among at least five groups gathered for a pre-arranged meeting of Texas motorcycle clubs.

Police had been alerted in advance and were stationed outside in marked patrol cars but their presence did not prevent gunmen opening fire in public.

Sgt Swanton claimed that officers shot at armed bikers to prevent further deaths but it was unclear who had shot the men who died.

“This is probably one of the most gruesome crime scenes I've ever seen in my 34 years of law enforcement,” he added.

“I was amazed that we didn't have innocent civilians killed or injured.”

Even as police were shutting down the area, making arrests and seizing weapons, more armed men were arriving at the scene.

The Waco Police Department posted repeated warnings on Facebook urging curious members of the public to stay away from the shopping centre while they dealt with the “very dangerous individuals”. “This is not the time to sight-see,” the message added.

Sgt Swanton said the meeting focused on turf and recruitment, two areas where the groups had often clashed, but bikers claimed the event was a meeting of the non-criminal Texas Confederation of Clubs and Independents.

Doug Greeness, a biker who said he was a member of a family riding club, said the group met to “discuss issues within the biker community”.

Managers at the Twin Peaks restaurant were also aware of the event in advance and police criticised them for not doing more to stop such large numbers of bikers gathering there.

The chain restaurant brands itself as having “scenic views” and is known for its scantily clad waitresses with “girl next door charisma and playful personalities”, according to its website.

A spokesperson for the Twin Peaks head office in Dallas said the Waco restaurant’s licence could be revoked as the company was “very upset” that safety standards had not been upheld.

Jay Patel, operating partner at the restaurant where the shooting took place, said he was “horrified by the criminal, violent acts”.

“We share in the community's trauma,” he said in a statement.

“Our priority is to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for our customers and employees, and we consider the police our partners in doing so.

“Our management team has had ongoing and positive communications with the police and we will continue to work with them as we all want to keep violent crime out of our businesses and community. We will continue to cooperate with the police as they investigate this terrible crime."

Police said that by Monday morning, 192 people had been arrested to be charged with engaging in organised crime.

Additional reporting by AP