The Hell’s Angels biker group is experiencing a flood of new applications for membership, in particular for its support group AK81. The group normally receives only few enquiries in its web-based guest book, but the past week alone has seen 250 queries.

Seventy-five of those enquiring have asked to become members of the AK81 group, or to be invited to Hell’s Angels parties in order to gain affiliation.

AK81 is a support group for the Hell’s Angels. The acronym stands for the Danish words Altid Klar (Always Ready), while 81 are the alphabet numbers for H and A.

Showdown
The increase in membership enquiries comes in connection with a showdown in recent weeks between immigrant groups and the Hell’s Angels as well as shows of strength by Hell’s Angels members who have walked the streets of Copenhagen and Århus en masse.

The Hell’s Angels home page has introduced a special AK81 page providing direct mail to the group, thus preventing police from being able to track approaches.

Going fast
A concerned police force has, however, registered the flood of interest in being recruited to what is termed the Hell’s Angels ‘mini-army’.

“We are worried that this is escalating and involving more and more people,” says Deputy Chief Superintendant Jørgen Isalin of the National Investigation Support Centre.

“It’s all going very fast now and there is no doubt that more and more people are joining. This is also happening on the other side too where large numbers of anti-social youths are supporting criminal immigrant groups who cause trouble in the streets and are provoking the Hell’s Angels,” he says.

HA no comment
Last month the conflict between the two groups cost the life of a young man. Since then the showdown has become more open, with shots being fired, hand grenades lobbed and marches in which the gangs show their strength.

“First of all it was the other groups that bothered the Hell’s Angels. Then they started AK81, and now they feel strong enough to arrive at parties, pubs and techno parties to show off their insignia. That is something the other groups won’t accept,” says Isalin.

It has not been possible to get a comment from the Hell’s Angels.