Biker Gang Accused Could Face Death Penalty

Some 170 bikers are facing murder charges - and potentially the death penalty - after nine people were killed during a shootout between rival motorcycle gangs in Waco, Texas.

A fist fight broke out in the bathroom of the Twin Peaks restaurant before spilling into a car park as the bikers attacked each other with clubs, chains and knives before opening fire.

Eight of the bikers died at the scene on Sunday, with another dying in hospital.

Eighteen others were taken to hospitals with injuries including stab and gunshot wounds.

Police say the arrested bikers, who come from five different gangs, face charges of engaging in organised crime for capital murder.

The blanket murder charge is possible given the number of those killed in a single incident, Sgt Swanton said.

A capital murder conviction is punishable by death in Texas.

Police initially said 192 people were taken into custody but revised that number downward on Monday.

The gang members are each being held on a $1m (£640,000) bond.

Sgt Swanton said: "This is probably one of the most gruesome scenes I've ever seen in my 34 years of law enforcement.

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

"This is not something we're playing around with. This is a major crime scene ... it is a pretty gruesome scene."

He added that the interior of the restaurant was littered with bullet casings, knives, clubs, bodies and pools of blood. Up to 100 weapons are also thought to have been recovered.

Snipers stood watch from the restaurant's roof on Monday because of fears of a potential attack on police by the gangs.

Many of the people arrested were detained arriving at the scene with weapons to try and continue the fight.

Sgt Swanton told reporters that off-duty officers had put themselves in "harm's way" and ran from nearby shops to help.

Authorities in Waco have increased security to prevent outbreaks of further violence. Parts of downtown were placed on lockdown on Monday, including the bridges crossing the Brazos River.

The rival biker gangs gathered at the Twin Peaks restaurant for a meeting about turf and recruitment, Sgt Swanton said. The location, off Interstate 35, also holds a shopping centre.

There were up to 200 gang members inside the restaurant when the violence erupted.

McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara said all nine people killed were members of the Bandidos or Cossacks gangs .

Police were aware of the meeting in advance and at least 18 Waco SWAT officers, as well as state troopers, were positioned outside the restaurant before the chaos began.

Sgt Swanton said some bikers turned their guns on the officers as the shootout spilled into the car park.

"Officers took fire and responded appropriately by returning fire," he said.

It was not immediately known if any of the nine killed were shot by police.

Meanwhile, Twin Peaks has revoked the franchise rights to the Waco restaurant, company spokesman Rick Van Warner said on Monday.

Sgt Swanton told reporters the venue had become a regular meeting site for bikers since its opening last August, and that the restaurant's managers did not cooperate when authorities expressed concern.

The chain, a so-called "breastaurant", is known for its scantily-clad waitresses.

Mr Van Warner said in a statement that the management team chose to ignore warnings and advice from the company, and did not establish the "high security standards" that the company requires.