Latest news with #Alameddine
ABC News
21 hours ago
- General
- ABC News
The signs and deaths pointing to a renewed gangland war in Sydney's underworld
Crime figures travelling with bodyguards, moving houses and a new police mega taskforce are all signs "the war" is on again. Having seen this all before, NSW Police's squad of detectives are determined that no more bodies — criminals or bystanders — will fill the morgue. Taskforce Falcon, as police have called it, already claimed a win when it located a "kill car" with two guns and a jerry can inside a day after being formed this week. A 16-year-old boy was arrested and charged with three offences over the discovery, and Detective Superintendent Jason Fox warned of networks recruiting children to carry out their dirty work. "There's obviously financial enticement, word of mouth. They see friends that might be involved of the same age and they think that's a path to go down," he said on Friday. Samimjan Azari avoided bullets in the attack last Sunday night that killed Dawood Zakaria and injured lawyer Sylvan Singh while they waited at the traffic light of a busy intersection in Granville. Mr Azari was charged a day later with possessing a pistol found by police in the car and he was granted bail. It was revealed in court the 26-year-old has spent the last four months with "bodyguards" and had taken up a senior role in the Alameddine crime network. An earlier shooting, in which bullets narrowly missed him and the late Mr Zakaria in February in Brighton-Le-Sands, was the catalyst for his increased security measures. He is not the only one taking extra precautions. The ABC has been told of "multiple" crime figures changing address and travelling in company. Mr Azari is believed by police to have been the target of last weekend's attack, with one theory that he was being followed while he reported for bail with his solicitor Mr Singh. Mr Singh is likely to make a recovery. When contacted by phone, someone at his Parramatta law firm said: "I'm not in any position to give any comment or statement." The door to their office was bolted shut when the ABC attempted to visit this week. Guttural screams were heard on the driveway of a Condell Park property on May 19. The slaying of plumber John Versace outside his family home proved to be the final straw for police attempting to stop feuding gangsters spilling blood on Sydney's streets. The 23-year-old only had a traffic offence on his criminal record with no known underworld connections. A video of the scene moments after the killing was shared online, attracting millions of views. "Oh my god," a woman can be heard wailing in a video. "Who would do this?" a man yells. If no link can be substantiated, his death would be the eighth fatality as either an innocent bystander or mistaken identity of the gangland war since the shootings began in 2020. Police are investigating whether the current conflict centres around an internal struggle between two crime gangs favoured by the Alameddine clan — "Ready 4 War" and "KVT". Ready 4 War has been described in previous court documents as the drug dealing arm of the Alameddine criminal empire. Its leader, Asaad Alahmad, was jailed for more than two years for his role in running the syndicate in 2024. Alahmad was entrusted with the role because he is the brother-in-law of Alameddine family patriarch Rafat Alameddine. KVT are a street gang hailing from Mt Druitt consisting mostly of young Pacific Islander men. They have been strongly linked to a number of underworld crimes police have tied back to the Alameddine crime network. One law enforcement source told the ABC the relationship between the Alameddines and KVT had "seriously soured". The Alameddine crime network leadership fled to Lebanon in 2023 under increasing police pressure leading to the belief they were now "vulnerable in Sydney", the source added. In a war of changing loyalties, rapper and accused Alameddine crime network associate Ali Younes posted a pointed picture to his Instagram this week. In it was himself with Rafat Alameddine and Dawood Zakaria's older brother Masood. "What's understood don't need to be explained," read the caption, followed by a blood drop emoji. Sitting in a suite at NSW correctional centre, Masood Zakaria may watch his brother's funeral from the cell he now calls home. Sources said there were provisions to allow prisoners to attend funerals, but that was highly unlikely for high security inmates currently on remand. Masood Zakaria is currently awaiting trial for a conspiracy to murder plot against rival Ibrahem Hamze in 2021. He was due to appear in the Supreme Court on Thursday via video but did not show in person. Dawood Zakaria may not have been a major underworld player, but wherever his big brother went, so did he. Whether it was photoshoots showcasing their friend Mr Younes, or following him down the gangland path that started with the notorious "Brothers 4 Life". In their heyday, the gang controlled by crime boss Bassam Hamzy struck fear into many on the streets of Sydney. A young relative of the Zakaria brothers was shot when gangsters looking for Masood Zakaria fired through the front door of the government housing property in Blacktown in 2013. He was not home at the time, but when their father opened the door the young child in the home received "over 300 pellet injuries to (the) kidney, throat, liver, spine and lungs", a court would eventually hear. Dawood Zakaria's own foray into crime began as a teenager, court records show. His most serious stint of offending occurred in 2012 when he was charged with a string of armed robberies. He was found not guilty of several charges at trial but was convicted of robbery in company and handed a two-year jail term to be served as an intensive corrections order in the community. Three days before he was shot dead, Dawood Zakaria was due to appear in Parramatta Local Court on a charge of drug possession. He never showed and was convicted and fined $400 in his absence.
7NEWS
5 days ago
- 7NEWS
Shooting victim Dawood Zakaria dies in hospital as NSW Police launch mega taskforce
Sydney 's escalating underworld violence has claimed another victim, with a man shot during a weekend ambush dying in hospital. Dawood Zakaria, 32, was shot in the head when a when a Mercedes pulled up alongside the Toyota HiLux he was a front-seat passenger in and at least one gunmen opened fire just after 5pm on Sunday. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Police launch super taskforce to combat Sydney's escalating underworld violence. Zakaria underwent surgery but has since died in hospital, NSW Police said. The HiLux driver, lawyer Sylvan Singh, 25, was shot in the leg and arm and remains in a stable condition in hospital. It is understood an alleged Alameddine crime network figure was the intended target. He and another man in the car were uninjured. The Mercedes was found destroyed by fire in Merrylands West a short time later. News of Zakaria's death comes as police launched a mega taskforce designed to crush criminal activities of gangs after a spate of public shootings, including Sunday's incident and the death of Condell Park plumber John Versace. Taskforce Falcon in NSW will oversee and try to bring to justice alleged criminals behind public place shootings, arson attacks and kidnappings dating back to December. The 150-strong taskforce, including 100 detectives, will oversee and coordinate more than a dozen investigations. 'We will not tolerate these lawless thugs getting out there with their vendettas against each other and putting in danger innocent victims in our community,' police minister Yasmin Catley said on Tuesday. 'Public safety is the No.1 priority for the NSW police force.' Deputy Commissioner David Hudson explained the uptick in violence was most likely related to gang turf wars over drugs spilling out on the streets. He vowed that any criminals, whether they played a small or large role, would be on the police's radar. 'We will pursue all those involved, whether you're staging a vehicle to be used as a getaway vehicle, steering that vehicle, where you are pulling the trigger for hire, or whether you are the person who orchestrated the contract on that individual,' he said. Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers.
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Perth Now
Bikie dies after being shot in head
A man who was ambushed and shot in the head during an allegedly targeted drive-by shooting has died in hospital. Dawood Zakaria was shot in the head inside a Toyota HiLux while it was turning onto Woodville Road, in Granville, about 5pm on Sunday. The 32-year-old died on Tuesday afternoon after being rushed to hospital in a critical condition and undergoing surgery. Police said earlier in the week he had not been expected to survive. Solicitor Sylvan Singh was shot in the arm and leg during an allegedly target drive-by attack. Supplied Credit: Supplied It is understood Mr Zakaria was an alleged gangland associate. Another passenger in the front seat, Sydney lawyer Syvlan Singh, suffered arm and leg gunshot injuries. He remains in a stable condition. It is understood gunshots were allegedly intended for Alameddine crime gang member Samimjan Azari, who was in the back seat with his bodyguard Levi Vitukawalu. Both were uninjured in the ordeal. The men had reportedly just attended Mr Azari's bail hearing, joined by Mr Singh – who has no links to the underworld other than his work. Dawood Zakaria has died in hospital after suffering critical head wounds. He had not been expected to survive. Supplied Credit: Supplied It is the second time an attempt on Mr Azari's life has been carried out, escaping another attempted hit in Brighton Le Sands – where he was in a group alongside Mr Zakaria – uninjured three months ago. Strike Force Arrino has been established to investigate the shooting, and will be overseen by Taskforce Falcon. The taskforce is a combination of 13 strike forces to investigate a arson, kidnappings and public shootings since December 2024. 'The recent violence on our streets is horrific,' NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley said. 'We won't tolerate these lawless thugs playing out their vendettas in our communities. 'When innocent people get caught up in them and are made to suffer it's sickening and barbaric. 'We will not tolerate these lawless thugs getting out there with their vendetta against each other and putting in danger members of our community.' Anyone with information, dashcam footage or CCTV vision of the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
West Australian
5 days ago
- West Australian
Dawood Zakaria: Alleged Alameddine associate dies after being shot in head
A man who was ambushed and shot in the head during an allegedly targeted drive-by shooting has died in hospital. Dawood Zakaria was shot in the head inside a Toyota HiLux while it was turning onto Woodville Road, in Granville, about 5pm on Sunday. The 32-year-old died on Tuesday afternoon after being rushed to hospital in a critical condition and undergoing surgery. Police said earlier in the week he had not been expected to survive. It is understood Mr Zakaria was an alleged gangland associate. Another passenger in the front seat, Sydney lawyer Syvlan Singh, suffered arm and leg gunshot injuries. He remains in a stable condition. It is understood gunshots were allegedly intended for Alameddine crime gang member Samimjan Azari, who was in the back seat with his bodyguard Levi Vitukawalu. Both were uninjured in the ordeal. The men had reportedly just attended Mr Azari's bail hearing, joined by Mr Singh – who has no links to the underworld other than his work. It is the second time an attempt on Mr Azari's life has been carried out, escaping another attempted hit in Brighton Le Sands – where he was in a group alongside Mr Zakaria – uninjured three months ago. Strike Force Arrino has been established to investigate the shooting, and will be overseen by Taskforce Falcon. The taskforce is a combination of 13 strike forces to investigate a arson, kidnappings and public shootings since December 2024. 'The recent violence on our streets is horrific,' NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley said. 'We won't tolerate these lawless thugs playing out their vendettas in our communities. 'When innocent people get caught up in them and are made to suffer it's sickening and barbaric. 'We will not tolerate these lawless thugs getting out there with their vendetta against each other and putting in danger members of our community.' Anyone with information, dashcam footage or CCTV vision of the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Sky News AU
5 days ago
- Sky News AU
Alameddine crime gang associate Darwood Zakaria, 32, dies after being shot in car while on Granville road in Sydney's west
An alleged Alameddine associate has died after being shot in the head while sat in a car on a busy major road in Sydney's west over the weekend. Passenger Darwood Zakaria, 32, was one of four men in a Toyota Hilux waiting at traffic lights on Woodville Road in Granville when occupants of a Mercedes Benz emerged and fired at least seven shots into the vehicle on Sunday about 5.10pm. Driver and lawyer Sylvan Singh, 25, desperately tried to escape and drove towards Parramatta before he stopped the car on Church St, near the M4 Motorway offramp. Paramedics treated Zakaria, who was in a critical condition with a gunshot wound to the head, and Mr Singh after he had been struck in the arm and shoulder. The 32-year-old was rushed to Westmead Hospital where he underwent surgery. NSW Police confirmed on Tuesday that Zakaria had died. Mr Singh remains in a stable condition. Fellow accused Alameddine associate Samimjan Azari - and another man named Levi Vitukawalu, 28 - were in the back seat of the Hilux and not injured in the shooting. The series of shootings in Sydney has sparked fears of an all-out gangland war. Police confirmed on Tuesday it is responding to the rise of shooting incidents with the creation of Taskforce Falcon comprising of 150 officers to help "suppress violent crime". The State Crime Command and NSW Crime Commission will take charge of the taskforce to investigate public place shootings, arson attacks and kidnappings. They will look into 11 incidents dating back to December 2024. It includes at least six public place shootings across Sydney, arsons at barbershops and the two shooting murders of John Versace, 23, who was set upon by a gunman in Condell Park, and David Khou, 31, gunned down outside his Canley Heights home. Strike Forces Sherringham and Kersley will also probe "the criminality of members and associates of a high-profile OCN". NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley described the uptick in violent crime in the city as "horrific", saying those responsible will be tracked down by the police. "We won't tolerate these lawless thugs playing out their vendettas in our communities. When innocent people get caught up in them and are made to suffer it's sickening and barbaric. Public safety is the number one priority of the NSW government and our police," she said. "We all have the right to live our lives in our communities safe from these brazen criminals." NSW Police Deputy Commissioner David Hudson said incorporating the 13 taskforces under one banner will strengthen the force's ability to crack down on crime. 'By consolidating these strike forces, we can more efficiently make or discount connections between them, as opposed to spending lengthy amounts of time trying to determine links where none exist. That's a smarter and faster way to deliver results for the people of NSW," he said. 'We also recognise that preventing harm is just as important as solving it, and Taskforce Falcon will have a proactive arm dedicated to ensuring we are applying the full force of available laws to stop violent crime before it happens." The police will also use moves such as high-visibility policing, disruption tactics and targeted enforcement – to shut down criminal activity "at the earliest opportunity".
