Covid strikes down Alameddine associate Masood Zakaria

A known associate of the Alameddine crime network is understood to be the latest member of the clan to contract COVID-19.

A known associate of the ­Alameddine crime network is understood to be the latest ­member of the clan to contract Covid.

In recent weeks Masood ­Zakaria is understood to have contracted the virus in Sydney’s southwest, which has also ­af­fected his close friend and fellow ­Alameddine associate and rap artist Ali “Ay Huncho” Younes.

The Daily Telegraph understands Zakaria was so severely unwell he needed to spend time in hospital.

A one-time member of the notorious Hamzy family’s Brothers 4 Life gang, he is believed to have been the target of a ­November 2013 shooting that saw his teenage sister struck by shotgun pellets.

Alameddine crime family associate Masood Zakaria has Covid-19. Picture: John Grainger

Western Sydney rapper Ali Younes has also been struck down with the illness. Picture: Toby Zerna

But in more recent times he has become a close ally of the Hamzys’ rivals, the Alameddines, including being close to convicted terrorist Talal Alameddine.

Last year both he and Rafat Alameddine – the leader of the family – were placed on serious crime prevention orders, which limit their movements and ability to interact with one another, and members of the underworld.

The orders were introduced in a bid to quell the violence between the Hamzys and Alameddines that has led to multiple execution-style shootings.