The claim: Video shows Hells Angels on the way to Colorado to confront Venezuelan gangs
A Sept. 1 Instagram post ( direct link , archive link ) includes a video of dozens of bikers traveling together down a road next to a video about supposed gang activity in Colorado.
“Hell Angels (sic) are on the way to Aurora, Colorado, to save the city after gangs from Venezuela took over apartments and destroyed places there!” reads on-screen text included in the post.
It was liked more than 11,000 times in five days. The video of the bikers was first shared on TikTok.
More from the Fact-Check Team: How we pick and research claims | Email newsletter | Facebook page
Our rating: False
The video predates the reported gang violence in Colorado by a month. The Colorado chapter of the Hells Angels said claims connecting the group to the gang activity in Colorado are false.
Video includes hashtag referencing Brazilian motorcycle club
The claim came amid reports of Venezuelan gang activity at an apartment complex in Aurora, Colorado, in August. Interim Aurora Police Chief Heather Morris said that contrary to viral social media posts, the property in question is not being “taken over" by gang members, USA TODAY reported .
News reports about the gang activity in the Aurora apartment complex first appeared in August. The TikTok video predates that by about a month. The biker video included in the post matches one uploaded to TikTok on July 7 , and the user who posted it told USA TODAY it's unrelated to the incidents in Colorado.
"This video (is) not Hells Angels," the user said. "This is Insanos 18 MC."
Insanos MC is a Brazilian motorcycle club with more than 12,000 members, according to its website . The video, both in its TikTok and Instagram iterations, includes the superimposed hashtag "#insanosmc."
The Rocky Mountain chapter of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club also said the claims about it confronting immigrants in Aurora are false in a Sept. 4 Instagram post .
"A social media rumor claiming that the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club – HAMC – is headed to Aurora, Colorado to violently confront Venezuelan immigrants has gone viral," reads part of the post. “The HAMC strongly denies the foundation and validity of these absolutely ridiculous and false claims. The HAMC does not involve itself in political issues outside of motorcycling and takes no stance on the issue of immigration or the presidential election.”
There are no credible news reports corroborating the claim that members of the Hells Angels are traveling to Aurora to confront gang members.
Fact check : False claim that Michigan attorney general is warning of gang tactics
USA TODAY reached out to the user who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Lead Stories and Check Your Fact also debunked the claim.
Our fact-check sources:
- @robertoguedesjr, Sept. 6, TikTok message with USA TODAY
- Hells Angels Rocky Mountain Chapter, Sept. 4, Instagram post
- @robertoguedesjr, July 7, TikTok post
Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or e-newspaper here .
USA TODAY is a verified signatory of the International Fact-Checking Network, which requires a demonstrated commitment to nonpartisanship, fairness and transparency. Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Meta .
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Video shows Brazilian motorcycle club, not Hells Angels on way to Colorado | Fact check
Local News
