By Amber Schultz, Riley Walter and Penry Buckley
Police have described a fatal shooting in inner-city Sydney on Friday night as a “reckless” and “targeted” attack linked to the underworld.
One man died after shots were fired at a Surry Hills service station and a suspected getaway car was later found torched in Kensington.
The victim has been identified as Nadal Acherkouk, who police say had known links to organised crime.
Superintendent Andrew Garner said police were dedicating significant resources to the search for those involved.
Nadal Acherkouk was gunned down.Credit: Nine
“This was an outrageous incident that demonstrated a high level of reckless indifference to the public around that area,” he said outside Mascot police station on Saturday.
“Police are working very hard to identify and arrest those involved … we’re coming for you.”
Garner said the victim was shot in the torso while in his car at a service station. He got out of the vehicle and walked down Cleveland Street where he “succumbed to his injuries” at a pedestrian crossing at the corner of Baptist Street.
Emergency services were called to the location about 7.45pm after shots were reported.
The victim had dined with four or five friends at the Erciyes Turkish restaurant next to the BP station before the shooting, restaurant staff confirmed. Police have taken the restaurant’s CCTV.
Further CCTV footage captured at a nearby convenience store showed a group, including children, taking cover.
Less than an hour later, a Porsche believed to be connected to the shooting was found on fire on Kensington Road in Kensington.
Kensington Road resident Craig Finn said he went to his apartment’s balcony after hearing voices coming from the garage about 8pm.
“It all just went up in flames and then a car drove off,” he said, adding that he called emergency services and residents were quickly evacuated.
“It sounded like it was going to blow, but luckily it didn’t … the wind was going in the other direction and the fire didn’t get into the building.”
The scene of the shooting in Surry Hills on Friday night.Credit: Penry Buckley
Detectives could be seen interviewing residents on Saturday morning, as forensic officers assessed the scene in the garage.
A witness on Cleveland Street, who asked not to be identified, heard several gunshots while walking their dog.
“It was like bam, bam, bam, two or three gunshots,” the witness said.
Another witness said they saw a man on the ground after hearing what they believed was a police helicopter.
Police are investigating possible links between the shooting and the car fire. One line of inquiry involved potential gangland connections.
No arrests have been made.
A crime scene was established on the corner of Baptist and Cleveland streets, where several police officers remained late on Friday night.
Homicide squad detectives are investigating the shooting. A report will be prepared for the coroner.
Cleveland Street was closed between South Dowling and Elizabeth streets, but has since reopened.
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