Fatal shooting linked to gun-crime rampage: [2 All-round First Edition]
Stapleton, John. The Australian; Canberra, A.C.T. [Canberra, A.C.T] 08 Dec 2003: 3.
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Abstract
THE wave of shooting murders sweeping southwest Sydney claimed another victim last night — a man in his 50s gunned down at point- blank range at his home in Merrylands.
The rampage began with the August 29 shooting of Ali Abdulrazak outside a Lakemba mosque, the killing of his nephew Ziad Razzak, 24, and family friend Mervat Hamka, and most recently, on October 30, the slaying of Ahmad Fahda, who was gunned down at a petrol station in Punchbowl Road, Punchbowl.
More than 30 shots were fired after an altercation broke out between a number of men “of Middle Eastern appearance” in the beer garden of the Kings Head Tavern at Hurstville in Sydney’s south, police said.
Full Text
THE wave of shooting murders sweeping southwest Sydney claimed another victim last night — a man in his 50s gunned down at point- blank range at his home in Merrylands.
The spate of deadly shootings in the area that is posing a major political problem for the Carr Government.
The man lived in Bristol Street, Merrylands. It is understood a previous attempt had been made on his life at the same address on September 25.
Police Taskforce Gain, set up to investigate shooting crimes in the area, was told of the murder.
Many members of the local Arab community gathered near the scene late last night.
Distressed relatives could be heard wailing outside the house as about 20 police gathered at the scene.
One neighbour who lived opposite said the occupants were quiet people who kept to themselves.
A police media officer said there had been several people at home when the shooting occurred. She said a number of shots were fired.
The man was dead when officers from nearby Holroyd police station and Homicide Squad detectives arrived at the scene.
A post-mortem examination is expected to be conducted today.
Four other people have been killed in shootings in Punchbowl and surrounding suburbs in Sydney’s southwest in the past few months.
The rampage began with the August 29 shooting of Ali Abdulrazak outside a Lakemba mosque, the killing of his nephew Ziad Razzak, 24, and family friend Mervat Hamka, and most recently, on October 30, the slaying of Ahmad Fahda, who was gunned down at a petrol station in Punchbowl Road, Punchbowl.
Late last month, more than 200 police officers raided 11 homes in the area, arresting six men and finding three handguns that were allegedly connected with the spate of shootings.
Three men were being interviewed by police last night after a shooting rampage in a Sydney carpark.
More than 30 shots were fired after an altercation broke out between a number of men “of Middle Eastern appearance” in the beer garden of the Kings Head Tavern at Hurstville in Sydney’s south, police said.
The argument continued in the carpark next to the tavern, where shots were fired and several cars damaged. One man was injured.