A Comanchero kingpin who survived an assassination attempt in May has been charged over an alleged 2014 murder.
Tarek Zahed was arrested by NSW police on Sunday. Photo: Supplied / NSW Police
Tarek Zahed, 42, was arrested by tactical officers during a vehicle stop in front of a train station on New South Head Road at Edgecliff in Australia just before 5pm on Sunday, as part of an ongoing investigation.
It's believed officers fired at the black BMW he was in with bean-bag rounds.
Images from the scene show the luxury car's shattered windows.
The arrest followed a years-long investigation into the 2014 death of Youssef Assoum at Bankstown.
The 29-year-old Assoum was found with a gunshot wound to his thigh and several cuts to his head before he was rushed to Liverpool Hospital where he later died.
On Sunday police arrested and charged Zahed with murder and kidnap in company with intent to commit serious indictable offence (special aggravated kidnap).
A NSW police media spokesperson confirmed the charge to ABC.
Zahed has been refused police bail and was expected to appear at the Downing Centre Local Court.
It's believed officers fired at the black BMW Tarek Zahed was in with bean-bag rounds. Photo: Supplied / New South Wales Police
Homicide squad commander Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said Zahed was one of several Taskforce Erebus targets allegedly linked to the murder.
"We will be alleging this person is responsible for the killing of Mr Assoum in 2014 and that his senior position in the Comanchero OMCG links him to a number of other matters relevant to police," Detective Superintendent Doherty said.
On 10 May, Zahed was shot 10 times when he and his brother, Omar, were attacked at the Bodyfit gym in the Western Sydney suburb of Auburn.
Omar, 39, received multiple shots to his arms, stomach and legs. He went into cardiac arrest and later died.
After the attack, Zahed was taken to Westmead Hospital in a critical condition where he stayed for a few months.
Prior to the attack, police had warned Zahed he was a marked man.
At the time police said he chose to ignore the warnings and by "going about their normal activities, [Omar has] ended up dead".
- ABC
