
City shaken after three wounded in daylight shooting
In the latest gangland shooting to rock Sydney, two masked gunmen entered a kebab shop in the western suburb of Auburn just after 1pm on Monday and fired eight shots.
One man, 26, was hit in the arm and shoulder, another yet-to-be-identified male was shot in the face and an innocent bystander - a 50-year-old female shop employee - suffered two torso wounds.
The victims remained in Westmead Hospital on Monday night.
The gunmen tried to enter an office at the back of the shop before fleeing in a black BMW with cloned registration plates, Acting NSW Police Commissioner Peter Thurtell said.
"It is beyond comprehension that three people were shot in a crowded Sydney street in broad daylight, and the resources of the NSW police have already been deployed," Commander Thurtell said.
"This is an emerging criminal investigation. We are throwing all our possible resources at it."
The 26-year-old victim was believed to be the subject of two previous attempts on his life, police said.
The man had reported to police on bail an hour before the shooting.
While declining to identify him by name, Commander Thurtell referred to news reports identifying Alameddine crime family associate Samimjan Azari as the target of the attack.
He has reportedly survived shootings at Granville and Brighton-Le-Sands.
In the wake of Monday's shooting, which took place during Auburn's busy lunch hour, a crime scene was set up and roads were closed in the area for several hours.
Police Minister Yasmin Catley said some of the best detectives in Australia would work the case as part of Taskforce Falcon, set up in late-May following a series of shootings between warring criminal gangs.
About 100 detectives have joined another 50 officers in the mega task force set up to curb gun violence in the city after eight public shootings in six weeks.
"My message to anyone out there going to be doing these place-based shootings on our streets - the police will get you and they will lock you up for a very long time, as they should," Ms Catley said.
"It is one thing for criminals to be shooting each other but when innocent people get caught up in this, it is absolutely abhorrent."
She said her thoughts were with the people injured in Monday's violence, which had "no place in our community".
"It's horrifying, it's unacceptable and it shakes the sense of safety we all deserve."
Premier Chris Minns described the shooting as "shockingly brazen" and said "NSW Police Force investigators are already hunting down those responsible".
"People committing this kind of violence can expect to be arrested, charged, and to spend years inside small jail cells," Mr Minns said.
Opposition Leader Mark Speakman urged action to prevent such shootings from becoming the "new normal".
"Every community in NSW deserves to feel safe, and we need to come down hard on the criminals who think they can run the show," Mr Speakman told AAP.
In the most shocking recent public shooting, innocent plumber John Versace was executed in his driveway in a case of mistaken identity.
Police are still searching for the men behind the 23-year-old's murder on May 19.
A "shockingly brazen" daylight shooting on a busy Sydney shopping strip has left three people wounded and shaken the city's sense of safety, authorities concede.
In the latest gangland shooting to rock Sydney, two masked gunmen entered a kebab shop in the western suburb of Auburn just after 1pm on Monday and fired eight shots.
One man, 26, was hit in the arm and shoulder, another yet-to-be-identified male was shot in the face and an innocent bystander - a 50-year-old female shop employee - suffered two torso wounds.
The victims remained in Westmead Hospital on Monday night.
The gunmen tried to enter an office at the back of the shop before fleeing in a black BMW with cloned registration plates, Acting NSW Police Commissioner Peter Thurtell said.
"It is beyond comprehension that three people were shot in a crowded Sydney street in broad daylight, and the resources of the NSW police have already been deployed," Commander Thurtell said.
"This is an emerging criminal investigation. We are throwing all our possible resources at it."
The 26-year-old victim was believed to be the subject of two previous attempts on his life, police said.
The man had reported to police on bail an hour before the shooting.
While declining to identify him by name, Commander Thurtell referred to news reports identifying Alameddine crime family associate Samimjan Azari as the target of the attack.
He has reportedly survived shootings at Granville and Brighton-Le-Sands.
In the wake of Monday's shooting, which took place during Auburn's busy lunch hour, a crime scene was set up and roads were closed in the area for several hours.
Police Minister Yasmin Catley said some of the best detectives in Australia would work the case as part of Taskforce Falcon, set up in late-May following a series of shootings between warring criminal gangs.
About 100 detectives have joined another 50 officers in the mega task force set up to curb gun violence in the city after eight public shootings in six weeks.
"My message to anyone out there going to be doing these place-based shootings on our streets - the police will get you and they will lock you up for a very long time, as they should," Ms Catley said.
"It is one thing for criminals to be shooting each other but when innocent people get caught up in this, it is absolutely abhorrent."
She said her thoughts were with the people injured in Monday's violence, which had "no place in our community".
"It's horrifying, it's unacceptable and it shakes the sense of safety we all deserve."
Premier Chris Minns described the shooting as "shockingly brazen" and said "NSW Police Force investigators are already hunting down those responsible".
"People committing this kind of violence can expect to be arrested, charged, and to spend years inside small jail cells," Mr Minns said.
Opposition Leader Mark Speakman urged action to prevent such shootings from becoming the "new normal".
"Every community in NSW deserves to feel safe, and we need to come down hard on the criminals who think they can run the show," Mr Speakman told AAP.
In the most shocking recent public shooting, innocent plumber John Versace was executed in his driveway in a case of mistaken identity.
Police are still searching for the men behind the 23-year-old's murder on May 19.
A "shockingly brazen" daylight shooting on a busy Sydney shopping strip has left three people wounded and shaken the city's sense of safety, authorities concede.
In the latest gangland shooting to rock Sydney, two masked gunmen entered a kebab shop in the western suburb of Auburn just after 1pm on Monday and fired eight shots.
One man, 26, was hit in the arm and shoulder, another yet-to-be-identified male was shot in the face and an innocent bystander - a 50-year-old female shop employee - suffered two torso wounds.
The victims remained in Westmead Hospital on Monday night.
The gunmen tried to enter an office at the back of the shop before fleeing in a black BMW with cloned registration plates, Acting NSW Police Commissioner Peter Thurtell said.
"It is beyond comprehension that three people were shot in a crowded Sydney street in broad daylight, and the resources of the NSW police have already been deployed," Commander Thurtell said.
"This is an emerging criminal investigation. We are throwing all our possible resources at it."
The 26-year-old victim was believed to be the subject of two previous attempts on his life, police said.
The man had reported to police on bail an hour before the shooting.
While declining to identify him by name, Commander Thurtell referred to news reports identifying Alameddine crime family associate Samimjan Azari as the target of the attack.
He has reportedly survived shootings at Granville and Brighton-Le-Sands.
In the wake of Monday's shooting, which took place during Auburn's busy lunch hour, a crime scene was set up and roads were closed in the area for several hours.
Police Minister Yasmin Catley said some of the best detectives in Australia would work the case as part of Taskforce Falcon, set up in late-May following a series of shootings between warring criminal gangs.
About 100 detectives have joined another 50 officers in the mega task force set up to curb gun violence in the city after eight public shootings in six weeks.
"My message to anyone out there going to be doing these place-based shootings on our streets - the police will get you and they will lock you up for a very long time, as they should," Ms Catley said.
"It is one thing for criminals to be shooting each other but when innocent people get caught up in this, it is absolutely abhorrent."
She said her thoughts were with the people injured in Monday's violence, which had "no place in our community".
"It's horrifying, it's unacceptable and it shakes the sense of safety we all deserve."
Premier Chris Minns described the shooting as "shockingly brazen" and said "NSW Police Force investigators are already hunting down those responsible".
"People committing this kind of violence can expect to be arrested, charged, and to spend years inside small jail cells," Mr Minns said.
Opposition Leader Mark Speakman urged action to prevent such shootings from becoming the "new normal".
"Every community in NSW deserves to feel safe, and we need to come down hard on the criminals who think they can run the show," Mr Speakman told AAP.
In the most shocking recent public shooting, innocent plumber John Versace was executed in his driveway in a case of mistaken identity.
Police are still searching for the men behind the 23-year-old's murder on May 19.
A "shockingly brazen" daylight shooting on a busy Sydney shopping strip has left three people wounded and shaken the city's sense of safety, authorities concede.
In the latest gangland shooting to rock Sydney, two masked gunmen entered a kebab shop in the western suburb of Auburn just after 1pm on Monday and fired eight shots.
One man, 26, was hit in the arm and shoulder, another yet-to-be-identified male was shot in the face and an innocent bystander - a 50-year-old female shop employee - suffered two torso wounds.
The victims remained in Westmead Hospital on Monday night.
The gunmen tried to enter an office at the back of the shop before fleeing in a black BMW with cloned registration plates, Acting NSW Police Commissioner Peter Thurtell said.
"It is beyond comprehension that three people were shot in a crowded Sydney street in broad daylight, and the resources of the NSW police have already been deployed," Commander Thurtell said.
"This is an emerging criminal investigation. We are throwing all our possible resources at it."
The 26-year-old victim was believed to be the subject of two previous attempts on his life, police said.
The man had reported to police on bail an hour before the shooting.
While declining to identify him by name, Commander Thurtell referred to news reports identifying Alameddine crime family associate Samimjan Azari as the target of the attack.
He has reportedly survived shootings at Granville and Brighton-Le-Sands.
In the wake of Monday's shooting, which took place during Auburn's busy lunch hour, a crime scene was set up and roads were closed in the area for several hours.
Police Minister Yasmin Catley said some of the best detectives in Australia would work the case as part of Taskforce Falcon, set up in late-May following a series of shootings between warring criminal gangs.
About 100 detectives have joined another 50 officers in the mega task force set up to curb gun violence in the city after eight public shootings in six weeks.
"My message to anyone out there going to be doing these place-based shootings on our streets - the police will get you and they will lock you up for a very long time, as they should," Ms Catley said.
"It is one thing for criminals to be shooting each other but when innocent people get caught up in this, it is absolutely abhorrent."
She said her thoughts were with the people injured in Monday's violence, which had "no place in our community".
"It's horrifying, it's unacceptable and it shakes the sense of safety we all deserve."
Premier Chris Minns described the shooting as "shockingly brazen" and said "NSW Police Force investigators are already hunting down those responsible".
"People committing this kind of violence can expect to be arrested, charged, and to spend years inside small jail cells," Mr Minns said.
Opposition Leader Mark Speakman urged action to prevent such shootings from becoming the "new normal".
"Every community in NSW deserves to feel safe, and we need to come down hard on the criminals who think they can run the show," Mr Speakman told AAP.
In the most shocking recent public shooting, innocent plumber John Versace was executed in his driveway in a case of mistaken identity.
Police are still searching for the men behind the 23-year-old's murder on May 19.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

ABC News
14 hours ago
- ABC News
Teen charged over Sydney underworld shooting of Dawood Zakaria, first murder charge under Taskforce Falcon
A man has been charged over the fatal shooting of a Sydney underworld figure, marking the first murder charge to come from NSW Police's mega taskforce investigating organised crime networks. Dawood Zakaria, 32, was shot multiple times inside a Toyota Hilux in May while stopped at traffic lights in Granville. Police allege that as the utility vehicle turned onto Woodville Road, the occupants of a nearby Mercedes approached the other car and fired several rounds, hitting the driver and front seat passenger. Lawyer Sylvan Singh was also shot, and two other men inside the vehicle were uninjured. On Wednesday, detectives under Taskforce Falcon executed a search warrant in Guildford and arrested a 19-year-old man. He was charged with murder and attempted murder, and other gang-related offences. Detective Superintendent Jason Box said that while police do not allege the 19-year-old was solely responsible for the shooting, his actions, pre, during and post the shooting allegedly amounted to him being a "principal" player in the slaying. Superintendent Box said it was a significant arrest for the taskforce, and investigations were still ongoing. "This was a brazen shooting at 5pm on a Sunday in the middle of Sydney ... there could have been multiple innocent victims," he said. In response to this May shooting, NSW Police had announced it would set up Taskforce Falcon to address growing fears of underworld violence in Sydney. At least 16 shootings with potential links to organised crime have occurred since the commencement of Taskforce Falcon — including one on Sunday night, with another on Wednesday morning still being investigated. When asked if NSW Police were "losing the war" when it came to organised crime in Sydney, Superintendent Box defended the force's efforts and said there had been several arrests in connection with recent violent attacks. Thirteen members of an emerging criminal network in Sydney's south-west, dubbed 'G7', were arrested and charged as part of the taskforce's investigation in recent months. It is alleged the group, made up of young men, are responsible for a string of public place shootings, home invasions and motor vehicle thefts across Sydney. The ABC understands the group do not 'play sides' and had been recruited for feuding organisations, including the notorious Alameddine crime network and Brothers 4 Life. Superintendent Box said he was not aware if the 19-year-old arrested on Wednesday morning had any connection with G7 and refused to be drawn on any other suggestions of other groups that may have played a part. Taskforce Falcon is also investigating a series of gangland attacks dating back to December last year, including the shooting murder of 31-year-old David Khau at Canley Heights.

Sydney Morning Herald
17 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Teenager arrested over underworld figure's death in Sydney gangland shooting
A teenager has been arrested and is expected to be charged with the murder of an underworld figure whose death at the height of a Sydney gangland feud sparked the establishment of a major police taskforce. Taskforce Falcon detectives on Wednesday morning arrested a 19-year-old man they will allege murdered 32-year-old Dawood Zakaria, who died after the Toyota HiLux he was travelling in with several associates was sprayed with bullets at Granville on May 25. Zakaria survived a gunshot wound to the head, but died in hospital days later. The 19-year-old is also expected to be charged with the attempted murder of Parramatta lawyer Sylvan Singh, 25, who was shot in the arm and the shoulder. Taskforce Falcon was established two days after the shooting to quell violence linked to a conflict with current and former members of the notorious Alameddine crime network. The Herald last month revealed the network had fractured when a senior member defected to form his own rival crime syndicate. The defection of the senior member and several other long-time Alameddine members and associates, who cannot be named for legal reasons, sparked a violent feud that has been linked to a number of public place shootings in the past six months. The intended target of the Granville shooting, who also cannot be named for legal reasons, had defected to the new network. Many of the key players in the conflict are in custody, charged with offences unrelated to the feud.

The Age
17 hours ago
- The Age
Teenager arrested over underworld figure's death in Sydney gangland shooting
A teenager has been arrested and is expected to be charged with the murder of an underworld figure whose death at the height of a Sydney gangland feud sparked the establishment of a major police taskforce. Taskforce Falcon detectives on Wednesday morning arrested a 19-year-old man they will allege murdered 32-year-old Dawood Zakaria, who died after the Toyota HiLux he was travelling in with several associates was sprayed with bullets at Granville on May 25. Zakaria survived a gunshot wound to the head, but died in hospital days later. The 19-year-old is also expected to be charged with the attempted murder of Parramatta lawyer Sylvan Singh, 25, who was shot in the arm and the shoulder. Taskforce Falcon was established two days after the shooting to quell violence linked to a conflict with current and former members of the notorious Alameddine crime network. The Herald last month revealed the network had fractured when a senior member defected to form his own rival crime syndicate. The defection of the senior member and several other long-time Alameddine members and associates, who cannot be named for legal reasons, sparked a violent feud that has been linked to a number of public place shootings in the past six months. The intended target of the Granville shooting, who also cannot be named for legal reasons, had defected to the new network. Many of the key players in the conflict are in custody, charged with offences unrelated to the feud.