Latest drive-by targeted former Socceroo
A string of eight shootings in seven days in western Sydney has prompted Premier Barry O'Farrell to urge fearful victims to speak to police before someone is hurt or killed.
Meanwhile, NSW police have reminded uncooperative witnesses that they too could be breaking the law.
In the latest incident, the family home of former Socceroo
Ahmad Elrich was targeted in Merrylands about 4.30am (AEST) on Thursday when his aunt's Toyota Camry took two bullets.
"It's a cowardly act," Elrich told the Seven Network on Thursday.
Elrich is facing court over 11 weapons and drugs charges but said he has nothing to do with the recent spate of drive-by shootings.
"I've got no association with any gangs that are fighting. I'm not involved in anyone's dramas."
No one was injured in the incident.
Mr O'Farrell said witnesses who don't come forward could be risking lives
"The real concern is these drive-by shootings, which so far haven't taken a life, may take the life or cause injury to an innocent bystander," Mr O'Farrell told reporters in Sydney on Thursday.
"That's simply unacceptable but it's made worse by a police concern that a lack of community feedback is hampering their investigations."
A total of seven drive-by shootings and one street shooting emanating from a domestic dispute, in which two people were injured, have taken place since last Friday in the Merrylands and Fairfield areas.
Detective Superintendent Peter Lennon joined Mr O'Farrell at Thursday's press conference and reminded witnesses who might know the offenders or have links to them the consequence of not coming forward.
"You could be charged with concealing a serious offence, hindering a police investigation or accessory before or after the fact to a serious crime," the Fairfield Local Area Commander said.
"If they know that this has occurred, then they are involved."
Det Supt Lennon also said that many residents' fears may be based on their experiences in their country of birth.
"I'm talking about elements of southwestern Sydney who are new to the state of New South Wales who may have memories of previous lifestyles or encounters with authorities that we've got to break down," he said.
"They need to understand what arrangements we can put in place for them."
Initial ballistic reports show handguns were used in the attacks, and police are working to determine if any of the incidents are linked.
Detective Chief Superintendent of Organised Crime Malcolm Lanyon said he'd seen similar strings of shootings among rival bikie groups.
"It could be a dispute over a territory, it could be a dispute over a slight between two different parties, it could be a domestic-related matter," Det Chief Supt Lanyon told AAP.
"And then invariably what would happen is there would be a tit-for-tat set of incidents."
As well as the shooting at the Elrich home, six homes and businesses in the area have been fired upon in drive-by shootings since Friday.
In a separate incident on Monday night, two men were shot in Barcom Street at Merrylands over a domestic dispute.
One had been shot in the face and shoulder. The other had been shot in the back.
Police charged a third man with attempted murder over the incident.
Det Supt Lennon said the double shooting and a shooting at a hairdressing salon in Fairfield in which a man was injured were not linked to the other incidents.
Detectives are still working to determine if the other six attacks on homes and a pizzeria in Merrylands West are connected.
No one was injured in those incidents.
NSW Police created Strike Force Restore this week to crack down on the shootings.
The team includes local police and officers from the Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad.
Police are appealing for anyone with information about the shootings to come forward.
Source:
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8289934/man-charged-after-sydney-drive-by-shooting
Elrich is representative of the type of Arabic scum infesting Australia - and to top things off, such a piece of reeking excrement has been allowed to sully the Australian shirt.
As things go, this "macho" Middle Eastern poseur was pulled over by police in May and was found to be carrying a couple of loaded pistols
and a stash of pecker-stiffening pills. :rofl:
"Police have alleged that two pistols and ammunition were found, as well as a quantity of the erectile dysfunction drug Cialis, for which Elrich did not have a prescription."
Source:
http://parramatta-advertiser.whereilive.com.au/news/story/exclusive-former-socceroo-on-gun-charges/
"Erectile dysfunction drug" - what a pathetic wimp. Yet again, a posturing non-White "gangsta" has been exposed as an all-round loser...
