Comanchero bikie boss Tarek Zahed shot, brother Omar killed in Auburn shooting
Comanchero bikie boss Tarek Zahed was critically injured and his brother Omar was shot dead when they were ambushed at a gym in Sydney’s west on Tuesday night.
The brothers were at the BodyFit Gym on Parramatta Road in Auburn when they were targeted in the shooting about 8pm.
Comanchero member Tarek Zahed, pictured, and his brother Omar were shot at an Auburn gym on Tuesday night.
Omar was treated for multiple gunshot wounds to his stomach, arms and legs. He went into cardiac arrest and died.
Tarek, 41, suffered up to 10 gunshot wounds to his body, including his head, and is in a critical condition in Westmead Hospital.
“When we arrived on scene both patients had suffered significant blood loss and one of them had gone into traumatic cardiac arrest,” NSW Ambulance inspector Kevin McSweeney said.
“Paramedics did everything they could, but despite best efforts, he died at the scene.
“The second patient had been hit with up to 10 bullets and incredibly, was still conscious and breathing when we transported him to hospital.
“This was an horrific and confronting scene that unfolded in front of several witnesses. It is very fortunate no other members of the public were injured.”
The men were found with multiple gunshot wounds at a gym in Auburn on Tuesday night.CREDIT:NINE NEWS
Police are investigating whether two burnt out cars found in Berala and Greenacre are linked to the shooting. No one has been arrested.
Second fatal shooting in two weeks
The shooting comes two weeks after underworld figure Mahmoud “Brownie” Ahmad was shot dead at an associate’s home in Sydney.
Ahmad was outside the home on Narelle Crescent in Greenacre about 9.20pm on April 27 when a gunman, “lying in wait”, fired a hail of bullets, police said. Ahmad died at the scene.
Detectives had warned Ahmad that he was a marked man in the days before his brutal execution, and also warned his brother Youssef of a price on his head.
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb told 2GB on Wednesday that it was possible the latest shooting was a revenge attack following the death of Ahmad.
“We can’t rule it out. Some of these people are in conflict with a number of other groups and it is hard to pinpoint if it is direct retaliation or not,” she said.
Police try to revive Mahmoud “Brownie” Ahmad after he was shot at Greenacre in April.
Bikie-gang links
Tarek Zahed is the national sergeant-at-arms of the Comanchero bikie gang, and his brother Omar also had links to the gang.
In September last year, Tarek was detained by authorities in Lebanon after NSW Police sent an alert through global law-enforcement body Interpol.
Police believe Tarek is a close associate of senior Comanchero figure Mark Buddle, who was formerly based in the United Arab Emirates but is now thought to be in Lebanon.
Tarek was detained in Beirut on his arrival on September 11, before applying for release in a Lebanese court on September 16, when his lawyer indicated he was seeking to obtain Lebanese nationality.
Senior Comanchero Tarek Zahed, pictured outside a Sydney court last year.CREDIT:EDWINA PICKLES
His bid was unsuccessful, and he returned to Sydney, where he faced intense scrutiny from Strike Force Raptor, which is tasked with disrupting bikie activity in NSW.
In December last year, the Supreme Court of NSW granted police a crime prevention order after finding that Tarek posed an ongoing threat of carrying out serious offences.
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Tarek, who is known for his designer wardrobe including Gucci and Balenciaga brands, had recently moved to Melbourne after the Supreme Court of NSW imposed a court order that bans him from returning to Sydney unless he complies with strict conditions.
He was prohibited from wearing gang colours in NSW, and was required to provide police with his vehicle registration, was only allowed one mobile phone and could not have more than $10,000 in his bank account.
Following Tuesday night’s shooting, a NSW Police spokesperson said a crime scene has been established and an investigation was taking place with the assistance of the Criminal Groups Squad and Strike Force Raptor.
Police diverted traffic away from the scene, which is near the intersection of Parramatta Road and Percy Street, and urged people to avoid the area.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.