Latest news with #DawoodZakaria
The Australian
5 hours ago
- The Australian
Teenager charged over fatal shooting of alleged Alameddine associate
A teenager has been charged over the fatal shooting that claimed the life of a suspected Alameddine associate earlier this year. Dawood Zakaria, 32, an alleged gangland associate, died in hospital in May after being ambushed and shot in the head in what police suspect was a targeted drive-by shooting in western Sydney. Now police have arrested a 19-year-old man for his alleged role in the underworld shooting, with Taskforce Falcon detectives descending on an address in Guildford on Wednesday morning. Taskforce Falcon have arrested a teenager over the alleged murder of Dawood Zakaria and the attempted murder of another. Picture: NSW Police media The man has been charged with a slew of offences, including murder, shooting with intent to murder, dealing with the proceeds of crime, drug supply, two counts of stealing a motor vehicle, illegally possessing ammunition and failing to comply with a digital access order. He was refused bail and is expected to face Paramatta Local Court on Thursday. Solicitor Sylvan Singh was injured in the shooting. Picture: Supplied It's understood the shooting – which claimed the life of Mr Zakaria and seriously injured Sydney solicitor Sylvan Singh – was intended for alleged Alameddine crime gang member Samimjan Azari, who was in the back seat with his bodyguard Levi Vitukawalu. It was the second attempt on Mr Azari's life. He escaped another attempted hit in Brighton Le Sands – in a group alongside Mr Zakaria – uninjured almost three months before. The 19-year-old was refused bail and is expected to face Paramatta Local Court on Thursday. Picture: NSW Police media NSW Police originally set up Strike Force Arrino to investigate the shooting but Taskforce Falcon took over just days after when it was established to combat Sydney-based violent crime. 'The recent violence on our streets is horrific,' NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley said at the time. 'We won't tolerate these lawless thugs playing out their vendettas in our communities.' Thomas Henry Cadet Journalist Thomas Henry joined News Corp as a cadet reporter in 2024. Previously he worked as an editorial assistant at The Australian while completing a Bachelor of Economics at Sydney University. Thomas Henry
Sky News AU
7 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Teenager charged with murder after western Sydney drive-by shooting left alleged gang associate dead and solicitor wounded
Police have charged a teenager over a fatal gang-related shooting that left one man dead and another seriously injured in western Sydney earlier this year. The 19-year-old was arrested by detectives from Taskforce Falcon on Wednesday morning following a raid on a home in Guildford. He is accused of being involved in the May ambush that killed 32-year-old Dawood Zakaria, a man believed to be connected to the Alameddine crime network. Mr Zakaria was shot in the head during what police allege was a targeted drive-by attack and later died in hospital. The same incident left solicitor Sylvan Singh with critical injuries. It's understood the group was not the intended target, with police suspecting the attack was aimed at alleged gang member Samimjan Azari, who was in the vehicle with his bodyguard, Levi Vitukawalu. Mr Azari had previously escaped another suspected attempt on his life in Brighton Le Sands, less than three months earlier, in a separate incident that also involved Mr Zakaria. The teenager is facing a string of serious charges including murder, shooting with intent to murder, supplying prohibited drugs, dealing with proceeds of crime, and two counts of motor vehicle theft. He has also been charged with illegal possession of ammunition and failing to comply with a digital access order. The accused was refused bail and is due to appear before Parramatta Local Court on Thursday. The investigation, originally launched under Strike Force Arrino, was taken over by Taskforce Falcon, a unit set up in response to a recent surge in underworld shootings across Sydney. NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley condemned the spike in gang violence earlier this year. 'The recent violence on our streets is horrific,' Ms Catley said. 'We won't tolerate these lawless thugs playing out their vendettas in our communities.' Police say investigations remain ongoing, with more arrests expected.
Perth Now
8 hours ago
- Perth Now
Teen charged over underworld shooting
A teenager has been charged over the fatal shooting that claimed the life of a suspected Alameddine associate earlier this year. Dawood Zakaria, 32, an alleged gangland associate, died in hospital in May after being ambushed and shot in the head in what police suspect was a targeted drive-by shooting in western Sydney. Now police have arrested a 19-year-old man for his alleged role in the underworld shooting, with Taskforce Falcon detectives descending on an address in Guildford on Wednesday morning. Taskforce Falcon have arrested a teenager over the alleged murder of Dawood Zakaria and the attempted murder of another. NSW Police media Credit: Supplied The man has been charged with a slew of offences, including murder, shooting with intent to murder, dealing with the proceeds of crime, drug supply, two counts of stealing a motor vehicle, illegally possessing ammunition and failing to comply with a digital access order. He was refused bail and is expected to face Paramatta Local Court on Thursday. Solicitor Sylvan Singh was injured in the shooting. Supplied Credit: Supplied It's understood the shooting – which claimed the life of Mr Zakaria and seriously injured Sydney solicitor Sylvan Singh – was intended for alleged Alameddine crime gang member Samimjan Azari, who was in the back seat with his bodyguard Levi Vitukawalu. It was the second attempt on Mr Azari's life. He escaped another attempted hit in Brighton Le Sands – in a group alongside Mr Zakaria – uninjured almost three months before. The 19-year-old was refused bail and is expected to face Paramatta Local Court on Thursday. NSW Police media Credit: Supplied NSW Police originally set up Strike Force Arrino to investigate the shooting but Taskforce Falcon took over just days after when it was established to combat Sydney-based violent crime. 'The recent violence on our streets is horrific,' NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley said at the time. 'We won't tolerate these lawless thugs playing out their vendettas in our communities.'
News.com.au
8 hours ago
- News.com.au
Teenager charged over shooting of alleged Alameddine associate
A teenager has been charged over the fatal shooting that claimed the life of a suspected Alameddine associate earlier this year. Dawood Zakaria, 32, an alleged gangland associate, died in hospital in May after being ambushed and shot in the head in what police suspect was a targeted drive-by shooting in western Sydney. Now police have arrested a 19-year-old man for his alleged role in the underworld shooting, with Taskforce Falcon detectives descending on an address in Guildford on Wednesday morning. The man has been charged with a slew of offences, including murder, shooting with intent to murder, dealing with the proceeds of crime, drug supply, two counts of stealing a motor vehicle, illegally possessing ammunition and failing to comply with a digital access order. He was refused bail and is expected to face Paramatta Local Court on Thursday. It's understood the shooting – which claimed the life of Mr Zakaria and seriously injured Sydney solicitor Sylvan Singh – was intended for alleged Alameddine crime gang member Samimjan Azari, who was in the back seat with his bodyguard Levi Vitukawalu. It was the second attempt on Mr Azari's life. He escaped another attempted hit in Brighton Le Sands – in a group alongside Mr Zakaria – uninjured almost three months before. NSW Police originally set up Strike Force Arrino to investigate the shooting but Taskforce Falcon took over just days after when it was established to combat Sydney-based violent crime. 'The recent violence on our streets is horrific,' NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley said at the time. 'We won't tolerate these lawless thugs playing out their vendettas in our communities.'
Daily Mail
16 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Arrest made over 'brazen' killing of underworld figure triggered by split from notorious Alameddine gang
As Sydney continues to grapple with another spate of fatal public shootings, detectives have arrested a man over a previous underworld killing. Detectives on Wednesday charged a 19-year-old man with the murder of Sydney underworld figure Dawood Zakaria, who was gunned down in a vehicle in May, along with the attempted murder of another passenger, lawyer Sylvan Singh, 25. Zakaria, 32, died after the ute he was in was riddled with bullets in Granville from people in a nearby Mercedes shooting several rounds about 5pm on May 25. A third person seated in the rear of the vehicle was believed to be the intended target, was later targeted in a shooting in a kebab shop in Auburn in June, but escaped without serious injury. He cannot be named for legal reasons. Detective Superintendent Jason Box said the charged 19-year-old was not believed to be the shooter. 'We allege his actions (before), during and post the shooting amount to him being a principal and therefore being charged with the offences of murder and attempted murder,' he said. 'This was a shooting, a brazen shooting at 5pm on Sunday in the middle of Sydney. There could have been multiple victims, innocent victims.' The intended target of the shooting had reportedly defected from the Alameddine crime syndicate to join a group which had splintered off from it to form a rival gang. Sydney has been rocked by more underworld shootings after a seemingly quiet period. On Tuesday evening, a 22-year-old man was shot once while getting in the passenger side of a car in Winston Hills, in the city's northwest. He ran from the car, seeking help from residents, and later died in hospital. The car driver escaped unscathed and is being questioned by police. It's the second public shooting in days after one man died in a gangland hit on two men outside a pub on Sunday. Initial investigations showed the man shot on Tuesday was targeted but it was unclear if the shooting was gang-related, Superintendent Barry Vincent said. 'We are out looking for these offenders. This early stage would indicate this is a targeted shooting,' he told reporters on Wednesday. 'I want to reassure the public that their local police and NSW Police are out there seeking to prevent these shootings and bring these people before the court as soon as possible.' The victim is yet to be formally identified. A burnt-out SUV believed to be linked to the fatal shooting was found in nearby suburb Old Toongabbie four hours after the shooting, Supt Vincent said. The homicide is among more than a dozen public shootings, arson attacks and kidnappings across Sydney since Christmas, leading police to set up the 150-officer-strong Taskforce Falcon in May to crush the underworld warfare.
