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Newcastle Herald
Newcastle Herald
National
Anna Falkenmire

Weeks before chaos at Mayfield, same 'out-of-control' event ran in Queensland

Three weeks before a Mayfield park was overrun with trail bike riders, riot police and outbreaks of violence, the same streetwear brand behind the chaotic event struck in Queensland.

While Newcastle police comb through footage from Sunday, June 14, to identify those who displayed behaviour described as dangerous and disgusting, their colleagues across the border are also investigating.

Company Bad Apples promoted an event dubbed 'Newcastle vs the World' on social media channels, promising cash giveaways and free merchandise at the skate park on Ingall Street that afternoon.

Police became aware of the event through intelligence and set up an operation involving specialist resources from the Public Order and Riot Squad, highway patrol and a helicopter.

Between 150 and 200 people attended Dangar Park along with up to 40 riders on illegal unregistered trail bikes, police said.

A brawl erupted, bikes churned up muddy tracks near a playground, riders taunted police, a highway patrol and privately-owned car were damaged and police were forced to deploy capsicum spray and close roads to restore order.

It was only three weeks earlier that the 'Logan City vs the World' event run by the same group took place at Beenleigh on May 24, Queensland police have confirmed.

A spokesperson told the Newcastle Herald officers were continuing to investigate a "disturbance and wilful damage incident" after being called to reports of a large gathering at a park on Boundary Road about 2pm.

Queensland police said about 150 people attended and a number were participating in "an out-of-control" event.

"Upon arrival, officers attempted to move on the group, during which one police vehicle was damaged," the spokesperson said.

"The group dispersed and regrouped at a car park on Logan River Road and Fletcher Road in Bethania.

"Police monitored this group, which was dispersed with minimal issues, and there were no reports of injuries."

Officers at the Logan event dealt with two 14-year-old boys under the Youth Justices Act in relation to driving unlicensed.

Police issued a 24-year-old woman with an infringement notice for being a public nuisance.

Pictures from Facebook, supplied

City of Logan mayor Jon Raven told ABC Newcastle that Queensland police had arrived early and managed to "interrupt it before it became an issue".

"It sounds like we dodged a bullet," he said.

"Because it was happening in a pretty busy park, it's a skate park, so there would have been lots of other kids around ... I think the police just thought they'd nip it in the bud before it turned into the sort of thing that happened in Newcastle."

Scenes from the Logan event on May 24. Pictures from Facebook

Cr Raven said he believed the instigators were from Sydney.

"These guys aren't really interested in helping young people. They're interested in making money from the publicity they get by being disruptive," he said.

Also in the news:

Newcastle Police District commander Superintendent Kylie Endemi said on Monday the large-scale operation in Newcastle had kept the public safe.

"I want to make it clear to all those who chose to behave in that unlawful manner, that you might not have been arrested [on Sunday], but that does not mean police will not come and knock on your door," she said.

Superintendent Endemi assured the community a significant investigation was under way.

Police allege organisers from Bad Apples refused to cooperate with requests for assistance to curb the chaos.

In Newcastle, one woman was arrested after a brawl but was released pending further investigations.

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