logo
Ransom twist emerges after a mother was dragged out of her home by five masked men and found dead in a burnt out car - as detectives probe interstate organised crime links

Ransom twist emerges after a mother was dragged out of her home by five masked men and found dead in a burnt out car - as detectives probe interstate organised crime links

Daily Mail​22-04-2025

Kidnappers who abducted a Sydney mother tried to extract a ransom for her release before she was found dead in a burnt-out car, according to new reports.
Thi Kim Tran, 45, spent last Thursday working at a nail salon before returning to her Bankstown home in Sydney's south-west to enjoy the Easter long weekend with her children.
Hours later, the mother-of-two was abducted at gunpoint and forced to strip naked in her driveway before a group of masked intruders dragged her into a SUV and drove away .
Her body was found in the burning vehicle in nearby Beverly Hills an hour later.
The Daily Telegraph reported that kidnappers attempted to extract ransom from a number of her associates by sending chilling threats detailing what would happen to Mr Tran if their demands were not met.
It's not yet known by police whether the ransom requests were received by the intended recipients.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted NSW Police for comment.
Police are also investigating whether Ms Tran was attacked due to her husband's alleged links to a large-scale Victorian organised crime group.
The couple's eight-year-old son was bashed with a baseball bat and left for dead in the attack while their eldest son, 15, was left traumatised by the incident.
NSW Police homicide squad commander Joe Doueihi told reporters on Tuesday that Ms Tran's husband may have been 'in conflict' with his superiors before his family was targeted.
He confirmed Ms Tran's husband was known to police for minor drug-related offences and alleged he had been working for the organised crime group for 'several months' before the deadly attack.
He hasn't been charged with any wrongdoing in relation to his wife's death.
'I can indicate that the organised crime group, their workforce consists of mainly Vietnamese males,' Supt Doueihi said.
'However, there is no information or evidence to suggest that the upper echelons of these organised crime groups are linked to southeast Asian organised crime groups.'
The couple's eight-year-old remains an induced coma and is expected to suffer long-lasting complications.
His 15-year-old brother also remains in hospital receiving trauma treatment.
Superintendent Douiehi said the two children 'had no knowledge' of their father's alleged involvement with the group.
There is also no suggestion Ms Tran was involved in any criminality - or that her husband was in any way involved in her abduction or execution.
Ms Tran had planned to spend the Easter long weekend with her two sons before she was abducted and murdered.
She appeared 'happy and normal as she headed home after a shift at a nail salon in inner-city Rozelle, according to colleagues.
'We (were) not open Good Friday, so she (was) planning to go with her kids to Easter Show,' a co-worker told The Daily Telegraph.
A sign has since gone up in the inner-west store claiming a 'beloved team member' had 'passed away unexpectedly'.
The colleague added her youngest son was 'very sick... he's in a coma still'.
They added Ms Tran was private when it came to her personal life but confirmed she would often mind her children alone given her husband worked in Melbourne.
Ms Trans's killers remain on the run.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Driver 'used car as weapon to kill Good Samaritan' trying to help injured woman
Driver 'used car as weapon to kill Good Samaritan' trying to help injured woman

Daily Mirror

timean hour ago

  • Daily Mirror

Driver 'used car as weapon to kill Good Samaritan' trying to help injured woman

Chris Marriott, 46, died when he was struck by Hassan Jhangur's car as he went to the aid of an injured woman following a fight at a wedding in Sheffield in 2023 A driver used his vehicle 'as a weapon' to kill a Good Samaritan who was helping the injured in a wedding brawl, a court heard today. Chris Marriott, 46, had been out walking with his wife and two young sons when he was struck by Hassan Jhangur's Seat Ibiza. Chris went to the aid of Jhangur's sister Nafeesa as she lay in the middle of the road in Sheffield. Jhangur, 25, allegedly drove his car deliberately at her, Chris, midwife Alison Norris, who had also gone to help, and his own mother Ambreen, a jury heard. He denies the murder of Mr Marriott and the attempted murder of Hasan Khan, who had married his sister Amaani earlier on Dec 27, 2023. Sheffield crown court heard that Amaani had fallen out with her mother just before the ceremony and none of her family had attended the wedding on the morning of the tragedy. Jhangurhad driven to the home of the groom and first knocked over his father Riazat Khan. He then hit the group killing Mr Marriott, before he attacked Hasan Khan with a knife, stabbing him multiple times, said Jason Pitter KC, prosecuting. He told the jury: "Mr Marriott was trying to help. It was that public spirit that brought him unwittingly into the midst of a family dispute that involved the defendant Hassan Jhangur. "It was their family on one side and a family related by marriage on the other, the family of Mr Khan. It was that family dispute that so tragically led to the death of Chris Marriott and to the serious injuries of a number of others." The jury had to decide whether the defendant "intended to cause serious harm and to kill" when his vehicle hit the victims. The prosecution say that the car, its wheels still spinning when it came to a halt with its engine running, was used 'as a weapon'. Following his arrest, Jhangur told police: "That's why you don't mess with the Jhangurs", Mr Pitter added. In a statement read to the jury, Mr Marriott's wife of 16 years Bryony told how they had gone for a walk with their sons after returning from her parents' home when they noticed a young Asian woman who was injured in the middle of the road. Their children were getting upset so he went to help while she took them back home. The last time she saw Chris, he was kneeling down asking the woman 'if she was ok'. She 'knew something was wrong' when she returned to the scene. "An officer explained that a male matching my husband's description was deceased," she said. "I came home and was waiting when an officer confirmed my husband had been killed." Alison Norris recalled being hit by the car. She told the court: "It was not stopping, I am a driver, and it kept on going at speed. I remember flying through the air backwards and thinking: 'I must have been hit'." Jhangur, of Whiteways Road, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, denies the murder and manslaughter of Mr Marriott, but has pleaded guilty to causing Mr Marriott's death by dangerous driving. His father Mohammed Jhangur, of the same address, denies perverting the course of justice by "hiding the knife used in the midst of his son's violence." The trial, expected to take place over two weeks, continues

Mum 'serves deadly mushrooms to in-laws then made herself throw up with dessert'
Mum 'serves deadly mushrooms to in-laws then made herself throw up with dessert'

Daily Mirror

time7 hours ago

  • Daily Mirror

Mum 'serves deadly mushrooms to in-laws then made herself throw up with dessert'

A woman accused of poisoning and murdering her in-laws with death cap mushrooms, has said she made herself throw up after eating the lethal meal, during an Australia trial The 'mushroom murder' trial in Australia has seen the accused, Erin Patterson, 50, give her third day of testimony. The mum of two stands accused of three counts of murder, and one of attempted murder - all of which she denies, pleading not guilty to all four charges. Erin prepared a beef Wellington lunch for her guests in July 2023, before deliberately including and feeding them poisonous death cap mushrooms, the court heard. However, her legal team is arguing that the inclusion of the toxic ingredient was nothing more than a terrible accident, which had tragic consequences. Three of her lunch guests died after eating the meal; her former parents-in-law, Don Patterson, 70, and Gail Patterson, 70, and her ex-mum-in-law's sister Heather Wilkinson, 66. The fourth guest, Ian Wilkinson, 71, survived, but spent weeks in hospital receiving treatment. The court heard Erin claimed that after eating a small portion of the poisoned main course, she binged on dessert - making herself "over-full" and vomit. She only had "a quarter, a third, somewhere around there" of the beef Wellington, she reportedly said, but once her guests headed home, she gorged on an orange cake her former mother-in-law had brought to the lunch. "I ate another piece of cake, and then another piece," she said, before eventually finishing the cake. "I felt sick… over-full so I went to the toilets and brought it back up again." "After I'd done that, I felt better," she said. Over three days the court heard Erin admit she lied to her guests about having cancer, because she wanted help looking after her children whilst she underwent gastric bypass surgery. "I remember thinking I didn't want to tell anybody what I was going to have done. I was really embarrassed by it," she claimed. Erin told the court she had spent quite some time deciding what to cook her guests, before landing on beef Wellington - a dish that had sentimental connotations from her childhood, as it was something her mother would make for special occasions. However, she claimed the mushrooms she included had little taste, so she added some dried mushrooms that she had previously purchased from an Asian food shop in Melbourne months before, and that she kept in a container. When asked if there could have been other sorts of mushrooms in there too, she said: "Now, I think there was a possibility that there were foraged ones in there as well." Since 2020, the accused has been regularly foraging for wild mushrooms. She said when she went to the hospital two days after the lethal lunch - for medical attention after developing stomach issues - that she was "shocked but confused" when she was asked if she might have consumed death cap mushrooms. The mushroom murder trial in Australia has captured international attention and testimony and the six-week trial has seen 50 people take the stand to provide evidence. Erin claimed during her testimony that her ex-husband, Simon Patterson, asked her if she used her food dehydrator to poison his parents, which caused her to panic, and throw the appliance away at the tip near her home. A conversation that her ex denies happened. She also erased all the data from her phone more than once, even when the police were actively searching her home - with the court hearing this was because she was afraid they would see images of the food dehydrator and the mushrooms themselves. "I had made the meal and served it and people had got sick," Erin told the court. "I was scared that they would blame me for it."

M&S finally relaunch online clothes shop after data leak – here's how to buy the best bits & it's NOT via their website
M&S finally relaunch online clothes shop after data leak – here's how to buy the best bits & it's NOT via their website

Scottish Sun

time21 hours ago

  • Scottish Sun

M&S finally relaunch online clothes shop after data leak – here's how to buy the best bits & it's NOT via their website

TOP MARKS M&S finally relaunch online clothes shop after data leak – here's how to buy the best bits & it's NOT via their website Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IT'S the moment millions of fashionistas have been patiently waiting for - the return of Marks & Spencer. The popular retailer has been dealing with chaos that began in April when cyber crooks launched a "highly sophisticated" attack that's still causing carnage behind the scenes, hitting everything from online orders to in-store stock. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 The mega retailer has finally relaunched online clothes shop after data leak Credit: EBay 3 But thrifty fashionistas won't find the bargains on M&S website Credit: EBay 3 The cyber attack forced M&S to halt online orders and triggered widespread disruption Credit: EBay The cyber attack, which kicked off over Easter weekend, has been one of the worst to hit the high street in years. It has forced M&S to halt online orders and triggered widespread disruption, including a £300million blow to profits. Customer info was also nicked during the breach, with security experts now blaming 'Scattered Spider'— a notorious cyber gang thought to be behind the chaos. Online shopping is still out of action and is expected to remain patchy until at least July, with fashion, home and beauty sales taking a battering. Last weekend, bosses said it could still take around "five or six weeks" until shoppers can carry out online clothing orders. Some stores have even been stripped of staples like bananas and Colin the Caterpillar cakes, and popular meal deals were pulled in smaller branches. But as M&S bosses still deal with the situation, the mega retailer has found a way to treat fashionistas - and it's not on their website. Those on the lookout for a new summer wardrobe will be delighted to hear that M&S has partnered with the online marketplace eBay. Similarly to M&S official website, their eBay page boasts just about anything you'd need - whether it's last-minute swimwear for a beach holiday or new office clothing. When clicking on the type of item you're after, such as a skirt or jeans, it will automatically come up with different size options. Fashion fans are racing to Primark for 'gorgeous' new £16 skirt that's 'perfect' for holidays and will hide your mum tum Once finding your right one, the site will narrow it down and showcase the gorgeous picks you can order online. Online shoppers can also expect to pay £1.95 for delivery - which can take several days. The new partnership also shows you how many other bargain hunters are looking at the item now - which comes in handy in case you don't want to miss out on the deals. Timeline of cyber attack Saturday, April 19: Initial reports emerge on social media of problems with contactless payments and click-and-collect services at M&S stores across the UK. Customers experience difficulties collecting online purchases and returning items due to system issues. Initial reports emerge on social media of problems with contactless payments and click-and-collect services at M&S stores across the UK. Customers experience difficulties collecting online purchases and returning items due to system issues. Monday, April 21: Problems with contactless payments and click-and-collect persist. M&S officially acknowledges the "cyber incident" in a statement to the London Stock Exchange. CEO Stuart Machin apologises for the disruption and confirms "minor, temporary changes" to store operations. M&S notifies the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) and engages external cybersecurity experts. Problems with contactless payments and click-and-collect persist. M&S officially acknowledges the "cyber incident" in a statement to the London Stock Exchange. CEO Stuart Machin apologises for the disruption and confirms "minor, temporary changes" to store operations. M&S notifies the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) and engages external cybersecurity experts. Tuesday, April 22: Disruptions continue. M&S takes further systems offline as part of "proactive management". Disruptions continue. M&S takes further systems offline as part of "proactive management". Wednesday, April 23: Despite earlier claims of customer-facing systems returning to normal, M&S continues to adjust operations to maintain security. Contactless payments are initially restored, but other services, including click-and-collect, remain affected. Despite earlier claims of customer-facing systems returning to normal, M&S continues to adjust operations to maintain security. Contactless payments are initially restored, but other services, including click-and-collect, remain affected. Thursday, April 24: Contactless payments and click-and-collect services are still unavailable. Reports surface suggesting the attackers possibly gained access to data in February. Contactless payments and click-and-collect services are still unavailable. Reports surface suggesting the attackers possibly gained access to data in February. Friday, April 25: M&S suspends all online and app orders in the UK and Ireland for clothing and food, although customers can still browse products. This decision leads to a 5% drop in M&S's share price. M&S suspends all online and app orders in the UK and Ireland for clothing and food, although customers can still browse products. This decision leads to a 5% drop in M&S's share price. Monday, April 28: M&S is still unable to process online orders. Around 200 agency workers at the main distribution centre are told to stay home. M&S is still unable to process online orders. Around 200 agency workers at the main distribution centre are told to stay home. Tuesday, April 29: Information suggests that the hacker group Scattered Spider is likely behind the attack. Shoppers spot empty shelves in selected stores. Information suggests that the hacker group Scattered Spider is likely behind the attack. Shoppers spot empty shelves in selected stores. Tuesday, May 13: M&S revealed that some customer information has been stolen. M&S revealed that some customer information has been stolen. Wednesday, May 21: The retailer said disruption from the attack is expected to continue through to July. Several of the stunning pieces are now also on sale, with dresses slashed to as little as £15. There are also heaps of summery swimwear to choose from - and they're all under £30. Meanwhile, M&S isn't the only store facing cyber trouble. What is a cyber attack? A CYBER attack is any deliberate attempt to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorised access to computer systems, networks, or digital devices. These attacks can target individuals, businesses, or even governments, and their motives can range from financial gain to political disruption. Cyber attacks can take many forms, employing various techniques to achieve their malicious goals. Common types of cyber attacks include: Malware: Malicious software designed to damage or gain control of a system. Examples include viruses, worms, ransomware, and spyware. Malicious software designed to damage or gain control of a system. Examples include viruses, worms, ransomware, and spyware. Phishing: Deceptive attempts to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, or credit card details, often through fake emails or websites. Deceptive attempts to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, or credit card details, often through fake emails or websites. Denial-of-Service (DoS) Attacks: Flooding a network or server with traffic to overwhelm its resources and make it unavailable to legitimate users. Flooding a network or server with traffic to overwhelm its resources and make it unavailable to legitimate users. SQL Injection: Exploiting vulnerabilities in website databases to gain unauthorised access to data. Exploiting vulnerabilities in website databases to gain unauthorised access to data. Ransomware: Malware that encrypts a victim's data and demands a ransom for its release. Malware that encrypts a victim's data and demands a ransom for its release. Social Engineering: Manipulating individuals into performing actions or divulging confidential information. Co-op was forced to shut down part of its IT system after facing a hacking attempt in April. It confirmed that it had "taken proactive steps to keep our systems safe". It was later revealed that the personal data of a "significant number" of its 6.2million customers and former members had been stolen. The details included names, contact information, and dates of birth. However, the retailer assured customers that passwords, credit card details, and transaction information were not compromised. Full services resumed on May 14, following the reactivation of its online ordering system. Luxury retailer, Harrods, was also another victim of last month's hacking saga. They had warned shoppers about "restricted internet access" due to the attempted breach, which caused difficulties for some customers trying to make payments.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store