Two of the motorcycle clubs at the scene of the shootout in Waco that killed nine and injured 17 have ties to Abilene, and the Department of Justice considers one of them to be a criminal group.
The Bandidos and the Cossacks were two of the biker groups spotted at the scene of the Sunday brawl outside a Twin Peaks restaurant.
Investigators have not released the names of the gangs involved. Photos from the scene showed bikers wearing the insignias of the Cossacks, Bandidos, Scimitars and Vaqueros, but it was not clear if the photographed gang members were involved in the fighting, CNN states.
The Abilene Police Department has been in direct contact with the FBI, DPS, and Waco Police Department regarding the deadly biker gang shootout in Waco.
APD would not comment on the incident in Waco but did confirm communication with federal and local investigators and stated that APD .
"The Police Department is aware of the serious threats posed by criminal offenders in motorcycle clubs, and it will work to ensure the safety of all community members and peace officers," APD Public Information Officer Rick Tomlin stated Monday.
The Bandidos are on a DOJ list of Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs, which are "organizations whose members use their motorcycle clubs as conduits for criminal enterprises," the DOJ website states.
"The Bandidos constitute a growing criminal threat to the U.S.," the agency told CNN. "The Bandidos are involved in transporting and distributing cocaine and marijuana and are involved in the production, transportation and distribution of methamphetamine."
The Bandidos have a membership of 2,000 to 2,500 across not just the United States, but also 13 other countries, the Department of Justice says.
The Bandidos and Cossacks were involved in a stabbing outside Logan's Roadhouse in Abilene in November of 2013, prompting the arrest of two Bandidos members. The two people who were stabbed recovered from their injuries.
While APD will not comment further on the Waco incident right now, the department is "monitoring the situation."
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