{"id":6570,"date":"2026-05-07T07:26:13","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T07:26:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/6570\/"},"modified":"2026-05-07T07:26:13","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T07:26:13","slug":"brisbane-hoon-blitz-sees-eight-arrested-and-two-ford-falcons-seized-after-dangerous-gateway-bridge-incident","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/6570\/","title":{"rendered":"Brisbane hoon blitz sees eight arrested and two Ford Falcons seized after dangerous Gateway Bridge incident"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">A major long weekend crackdown on hooning has led to eight arrests, dozens of fines and the seizure of two Ford Falcons, with Queensland police vowing there will be \u201cmore consequences to come\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Officers disrupted an alleged hooning event involving about 30 vehicles across <a class=\"css-1lg16vp-StyledTextLink ezegcyi0\" data-link-type=\"article-inline\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/7news.com.au\/news\/brisbane\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Brisbane<\/a> and <a class=\"css-1lg16vp-StyledTextLink ezegcyi0\" data-link-type=\"article-inline\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/7news.com.au\/news\/ipswich\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Ipswich<\/a> between May 2 and 3 as part of Operation X-Ray Antler, targeting dangerous driving and illegal street gatherings across southeast <a class=\"css-1lg16vp-StyledTextLink ezegcyi0\" data-link-type=\"article-inline\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/7news.com.au\/news\/qld\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Queensland<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Police swoop on hoons in major crackdown<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-178igh4-StyledParagraph e1s06mna1\">Know the news with the 7NEWS app: <a class=\"css-h2mhmv-StyledContextualLink e1s06mna0\" href=\"https:\/\/7news.com.au\/app?utm_source=7NEWS&amp;utm_medium=contextual-link-app&amp;utm_campaign=7news-app\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Download today Arrow<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\"><a class=\"css-1lg16vp-StyledTextLink ezegcyi0\" data-link-type=\"article-inline\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/7news.com.au\/news\/queensland-police\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Police said<\/a> the operation was only the beginning, with investigators now combing through CCTV, <a class=\"css-1lg16vp-StyledTextLink ezegcyi0\" data-link-type=\"article-inline\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/7news.com.au\/technology\/social-media\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">social media<\/a> and intelligence to identify more drivers involved.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">\u201cThe message from us is those people can expect a visit from police shortly,\u201d North Brisbane District Acting Superintendent Michael Hogan said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">\u201cThe broader community are sick of the hooning and the police are taking a zero tolerance approach.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Two vehicles \u2014 a blue Ford Falcon and a silver Ford Falcon \u2014 were seized during the operation, while officers issued 66 traffic infringement notices, including fines for speeding, spectating at hoon events and driving defective vehicles.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Two alleged offenders who initially escaped were later tracked down by the dog squad and arrested.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ce019b1553e98fd84c1b5229e1b768a0547c960a-16x9-x0y0w1280h720.jpg\" alt=\"Police seized two Ford Falcons during the Labour Day weekend hooning crackdown.\" class=\"css-16r7l45-StyledImage en5ut4d0\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"720\" width=\"1280\"\/>Police seized two Ford Falcons during the Labour Day weekend hooning crackdown. Credit: Queensland Police<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/6cfb1a07be7875c2f9dab92e5b15a215c4e36dc8-16x9-x0y0w1920h1080.jpg\" alt=\"Acting Superintendent Michael Hogan says police are taking a \u2018zero tolerance\u2019 approach to hooning across southeast Queensland.\" class=\"css-16r7l45-StyledImage en5ut4d0\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"1080\" width=\"1920\"\/>Acting Superintendent Michael Hogan says police are taking a \u2018zero tolerance\u2019 approach to hooning across southeast Queensland. Credit: Queensland Police<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/d839c93da8bed588ded19d719d7f7f847681aa78-16x9-x0y0w1920h1080.jpg\" alt=\"Police arrest an alleged hoon during the major Labour Day weekend crackdown.\" class=\"css-16r7l45-StyledImage en5ut4d0\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"1080\" width=\"1920\"\/>Police arrest an alleged hoon during the major Labour Day weekend crackdown. Credit: Queensland Police<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Among those charged was a 20-year-old man allegedly caught stealing tyres near one of the hooning events before being chased down by police in Eagle Farm.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Authorities allege the illegal meets are increasingly linked to wider criminal offending, including thefts and dangerous driving.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">\u201cThey\u2019re engaged in serious criminal activity that has resulted in serious consequences, including the loss of lives,\u201d Hogan said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">One driver who allegedly evaded police during the weekend operation was later seen performing dangerous driving manoeuvres on the <a class=\"css-1lg16vp-StyledTextLink ezegcyi0\" data-link-type=\"article-inline\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/7news.com.au\/news\/the-chilling-history-of-brisbanes-gateway-bridge-as-the-infamous-structure-turns-40-c-22151260\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Gateway Bridge<\/a>, filling the roadway with smoke.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">\u201cJust drove straight into a cloud of smoke and the rest is history, the car in front with his headlights off was just doing all the burnouts,\u201d one motorist told reporters.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Police said a Highway Patrol unit intervened before the situation escalated further, though the driver has not yet been charged, with investigations into the Gateway Bridge incident remain ongoing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">The crackdown comes amid growing concern over the dangers linked to <a class=\"css-1lg16vp-StyledTextLink ezegcyi0\" data-link-type=\"article-inline\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/7news.com.au\/travel\/queensland-traffic\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">hooning culture<\/a> in southeast <a class=\"css-1lg16vp-StyledTextLink ezegcyi0\" data-link-type=\"article-inline\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/7news.com.au\/news\/qld\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Queensland<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">In March, police charged a 24-year-old <a class=\"css-1lg16vp-StyledTextLink ezegcyi0\" data-link-type=\"article-inline\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/7news.com.au\/news\/sunshine-coast\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Sunshine Coast<\/a> man over an alleged burnout incident in Hemmant ending with a Ford Falcon engulfed in flames with four people inside.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Police allege the vehicle caught fire during the activity, leaving all four occupants seriously injured.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">A 20-year-old man suffered critical leg injuries and spent weeks in hospital undergoing multiple surgeries.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">\u201cIt\u2019s not worth losing your life, causing a loss of life,\u201d Hogan said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">\u201cFor anyone who has friends or families involved in this activity, please urge them to realise the danger of the activities they\u2019re engaging in.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/d6bbf6fec50e95f2fe2de87e14cc76138263d1a1.jpg\" alt=\"Smoke fills the Gateway Bridge as a driver allegedly performs burnouts during the hooning incident.\" class=\"css-16r7l45-StyledImage en5ut4d0\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>Smoke fills the Gateway Bridge as a driver allegedly performs burnouts during the hooning incident. Credit: 7NEWS<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ef49c78a9b677a8ae5419fbc80a981d52c9ed9c2.jpg\" alt=\"Police allege the Ford Falcon caught fire during burnouts in Hemmant, leaving four occupants seriously injured.\" class=\"css-16r7l45-StyledImage en5ut4d0\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>Police allege the Ford Falcon caught fire during burnouts in Hemmant, leaving four occupants seriously injured. Credit: Queensland Police<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Police said the groups involved were typically aged between 18 and 20 and often travelled between different industrial areas and roads across southeast Queensland to avoid detection.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Authorities denied all vehicles involved were stolen, but said many were unregistered or unroadworthy and tyres used for burnouts were often stolen from businesses across the region.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">\u201cWe have identified a number of what we would call groups that are participating in this activity,\u201d Hogan said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\"><a class=\"css-1lg16vp-StyledTextLink ezegcyi0\" data-link-type=\"article-inline\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/7news.com.au\/news\/queensland-police\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Queensland Police<\/a> said more targeted disruption operations are planned in coming months as part of a broader strategy to stamp out dangerous driving and illegal street racing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">\u201cPolice have no tolerance for these senseless offences and will continue to run targeted operations to identify, disrupt, and take enforcement action against hooning,\u201d Hogan said.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"css-6fiqrm-StyledLinkWrapper e1y7kr221\" href=\"https:\/\/7news.com.au\/news\/us-tourist-john-rudat-returns-to-dresden-court-after-box-cutter-slashes-left-permanent-scars-while-defending-woman-on-tram-c-22248602\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>Hero tourist scarred for life in box cutter attack faces accused attackers<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-xp0jgm-StyledTimeToRead e1y7kr223\">2 min read<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a class=\"css-6fiqrm-StyledLinkWrapper e1y7kr221\" href=\"https:\/\/7news.com.au\/news\/woodford-aged-care-nurse-carron-scott-killed-on-way-to-work-in-alleged-stolen-ute-crash-remembered-c-22247877\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>Family remember \u2018remarkable\u2019 nurse killed in head-on crash horror<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-xp0jgm-StyledTimeToRead e1y7kr223\">2 min read<\/p>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A major long weekend crackdown on hooning has led to eight arrests, dozens of fines and the seizure&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6571,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[99,225,226,312,7955,7956,152,229,230,106,1076,1134,7957,224],"class_list":{"0":"post-6570","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-brisbane","8":"tag-brisbane","9":"tag-brisbane-queensland-traffic","10":"tag-car-accidents","11":"tag-crime","12":"tag-crime-brisbane","13":"tag-ipswich","14":"tag-news","15":"tag-queensland-news","16":"tag-queensland-police","17":"tag-social-media","18":"tag-sunshine-coast","19":"tag-technology","20":"tag-traffic-general","21":"tag-travel"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6570","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6570"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6570\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6571"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6570"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6570"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6570"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}