Police believe gunmen may be being recruited on social media as hunt for Sydney kebab shop shooters continues

The Guardian

4 hours ago

Police investigating the triple shooting at a kebab shop in western Sydney on Monday believe gunmen may be being recruited on social media to carry out contract killings.
Two masked men entered the shop in Auburn on Monday and fired eight shots, wounding three people, including a 47-year-old woman employed at the store.
A 26-year-old man, who police believe was the target of the alleged attempted killing, was shot in the shoulder and arm but was in a stable condition, New South Wales police said.
Det Insp Jason Box said previous attempts had been made on the man's life, including on 13 June.
Police alleged conflict between organised crime networks was behind the Auburn shooting and three burnt-out cars discovered in the hours after the incident could be linked.
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Box said police believed people 'are being recruited by encrypted devices, social media and word of mouth to commit these offences' and that the method was becoming increasingly 'common'.
'I believe from some of the offenders … some have no connection to organised crime networks until such time as they commit these offences,' Box said.
'I believe it is common and I believe it's increasing.'
Police said the Auburn shooters left in a black Audi Q7 with cloned number plates. It was found burnt out in Harris Park on Monday night.
Two more vehicles – a white ute and a red commodore with cloned plates – were found burnt out on Tuesday in nearby Greystanes and Merrylands.
Box alleged witnesses had reported a white ute – 'with several occupants and their faces covered' – in relation to the 13 June alleged attempt on the man's life. One person in the ute was 'believed to be holding a firearm', Box said.
Police are investigating if the commodore is linked.
Police said they had spoken to the allegedly targeted 26-year-old on nine occasions, including welfare checks and warning him 'about threats to his life'.
Box alleged: 'It's quite obvious how determined they are when you look at yesterday and the continued attempts. This is a fourth attempt on this fellow that we're aware of.'
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When asked about what has led to the spate of recent shootings in Sydney, Box said: 'There's internal conflict within the organised crime networks for various reasons.'
Police and government officials have hosed down suggestions authorities are losing control of the streets.
The premier, Chris Minns, said 20 of the 25 organised crime-related murders in NSW since 2021 had resulted in arrests.
'That history proves you'll be caught and, if you're caught, the full force of the law will apply to you,' Minns said.
A police taskforce named Falcon has 150 officers working to solve 12 shootings across Sydney since Christmas.
The Auburn shooting has been referred to Taskforce Falcon.
The woman who was shot twice in the torso is in a stable condition.
A 25-year-old man shot in the face is in a critical but stable condition. He is an associate of the 26-year-old man, and was present on the 13 June incident, Box said.