The Bandidos and Vikings motorcycle clubs were raided at the same time yesterday morning, with special police taskforces participating in execution of the search warrants.

As part of Operation Resound, police from Echo Taskforce, the Australian Federal Police, Crime Command, the dog squad and local officers conducted the raids at 8.45am yesterday.

A small number of items were seized but no arrests were made. Police were on the scene at each clubhouse for about 90 minutes.

The raids come as police fear that a bikie war between the Bandidos and Hells Angels is about to erupt throughout Victoria.

Bandidos Serjeant-at-Arms Toby Mitchell was shot in Melton earlier this month, before a Hells Angels affiliated clubhouse was burnt down in Bendigo.

Ballarat is the first regional city to be targeted by the Echo Taskforce.

Police say there is an affiliation between the Vikings Motorcycle Club, located in Ballarat East, and the Hells Angels.

Crime Command Detective Inspector Mick Frewen said police had received information that led to the Ballarat raids.

Despite the highly publicised war between the Hells Angels and Bandidos’, Detective Frewen said there were a number of other clubs police believed could be involved.

“The continuing escalation where outlaw motorcycle gangs take the law into their own hands is of number-one concern to us in terms of safety to the public,” Detective Frewen said.

“They might be called a different name across the state but it doesn’t mean they aren’t connected.”

Detecive Frewen said there were no plans for further raids in Ballarat, but did not rule it out.

“We are responding at a statewide level, we aren’t just restricting it to Melbourne,” he said. “The escalation is of grave concern to Victoria Police and society in general. When things escalate quickly, sometimes people make irrational decisions.”

Detective Frewen urged anybody with information on suspicious activity, including club members, to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.