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THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — A court in the Netherlands banned the Dutch branch of the Bandidos motorcycle club Wednesday, ruling in a civil case that the biker gang is a threat to public order.
The ban "is necessary to protect society," said the Central Netherlands Court. The court also banned members of overseas Bandidos chapters from operating in the Netherlands.
Prosecutors hailed the ruling as a victory in efforts to clamp down on motorcycle gangs in the Netherlands.
"We are very satisfied," said Jirko Patist, a spokesman for the National Prosecutors Office. "The court upheld all our arguments."
There was no immediate reaction from the Bandidos or the gang's lawyer. The Bandidos have three months in which they can lodge an appeal.
The court ruled that the Bandidos have "a culture that stimulates violence," including awarding club patches to members who have been involved in violence.
According to the ruling, the Bandidos first opened a Dutch chapter in the southern city of Sittard in 2014. Prosecutors say the gang has dozens of Dutch members.
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