Innocent woman hit, underworld figure target again as three shot outside Sydney kebab shop

An innocent woman is among three hospitalised after being shot outside a Sydney kebab shop today. Underworld figure Samimjan Azari was also hit — targeted again after a similar attempt weeks ago.

A man is loaded into an ambulance after the shootings. Picture: Supplied

An innocent female bystander is among three people hospitalised after a horror lunchtime underworld shooting in Sydney’s west.

The woman is one of three people shot outside a kebab shop in Sydney’s west, including one man — Samimjan Azari — who survived a hit on his life just last month.

The terrifying shootout happened in Auburn outside M Brothers Kebab shop, and opposite the local train station which was filled with pedestrian traffic.

NSW Police acting Commissioner Peter Thurtell said the daylight shooting of three people, including the innocent female shop worker, aged 50, was “beyond comprehension”.

He said two masked men walked into a shop just after 1pm and opened fire, pumping up to eight bullets into three people.

The woman, believed to be aged 50, was shot twice in the torso, a male was shot in the face and Azari was shot in the arm and shoulder. The woman ans Azari are in stable conditions in hospital. The second man is in a serious condition.

Commissioner Thurtell said the two gunmen attempted to get into an office at the back of the shop before fleeing in a black Audi Q7 with cloned number plates.

The street has been closed in the wake of the shootings. Picture: TNV

An hour before the shooting, Commissioner Thurtell said Azari reported for bail, and was in the company of another male, but it was not known if that was the second man injured in the shooting.

“This is the early stages of a criminal investigation … but we are throwing all our possible resources at it,” Commissioner Thurtell said.

Samimjan Azari. Picture: Supplied.

Azari was arrested on guns charges after he was the target of a shooting in Church St, Granville under the M4 overpass just weeks ago. Picture: Rohan Kelly

Commissioner Thurtell said intiial inquiries indicated Azari was the target of the attack.

“As recently as last Friday, police had spoken with the man due to concerns about his safety. This man has already been the target of previous shooting attempts,” Commissioner Thurtell said.

“It’s outrageous that these people have now taken their fight to the streets of Sydney. This is not what we expect in this city.”

PREVIOUS TARGET

Azari was shot at while travelling in the back seat of a ute at Granville on May 25.

Azari, who police later charged with possessing an unauthorised gun after a pistol was allegedly found in the vehicle, was granted strict bail the following day, despite police warning the court he was the “epicentre” of gangland tensions in Sydney.

Police prosecutor Kai Jiang told Parramatta Local Court on May 26 that Azari was at the centre of the tit-for-tat war between rival underworld gangs, and there would be more unrest if he was granted bail.

“There will be further bloodshed on the streets – the streets will not be safe. And it’s because of Mr Azari’s standing and holding in the organised crime network,” Jiang told the court.

Witnesses said they heard up to eight bullets fired before hearing people screaming for help.

Distressing video of the aftermath of the shooting showed paramedics frantically rushing a heavily-bleeding man towards an ambulance.

The man had blood pouring from his head and mouth.

Police have cordoned off the street and surrounding streets while a major investigation is carried out.

The scene on South Parade. Picture: TNV

‘LIKE FIREWORKS’

A solicitor in the area, Rameen Sheranzy, was close by to the Auburn train station when he heard a loud bang noise which he described as sounding like fireworks.

“There was no arguing, I heard a bit of noise and then there was a big bang,” Mr Sheranzy told the Telegraph.

Mr Sheranzy said the shooting is something he never would have expected to happen, especially in a community which he frequents every day.

“At first instance I thought it was a firework or a cracker, gun was never on my mind,” he said.

“Then I realised how loud it actually was, commotion was happening and I knew it was bad.”

Police have closed off the entire section of South PDE in Auburn with people unable to get to their homes.

Large crowds gathered around the crime scene, especially commuters from the train station.

Police on the scene of a shooting at M Brothers’ Cafe in South Parade, Auburn. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

‘SHOCKINGLY BRAZEN’

NSW Premier Chris Minns said the criminals who committed this “shockingly brazen” crime could “expect to spend years inside small jail cells”.

“This is shockingly brazen and NSW Police Force investigators are already hunting down those responsible,” he said.

“We don’t stand for it and NSW Police doesn’t stand for it.”

The Premier said NSW Police have levelled charges in relation to 20 of 25 organised crime murders since 2021 saying “they’re not done yet”.

“People committing this kind of violence can expect to be arrested, charged and to spend years inside small jail cells,” he said.

Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism, Yasmin Catley said: “We are deeply concerned by the horrifying events unfolding in Auburn this afternoon.

“Multiple people have been injured in this public place shooting. Our thoughts are with them and their loved ones.

“This kind of violence has no place in our community. It’s horrifying, it’s unacceptable and it shakes the sense of safety we all deserve.

Originally published as Innocent woman hit, underworld figure target again as three shot outside Sydney kebab shop