Alleged Alameddine associate Billal Mahfoud targeted in Guildford shooting

The home of an alleged associate of the Alameddine crime network has been sprayed with bullets and a car set alight as Sydney’s gangland war rages on.

An alleged associate of the Alameddine organised crime network has narrowly avoided becoming the latest victim of a gangland drive-by shooting in Sydney’s west.

Billal Mahfoud, 21, was sitting on the patio out the front of his Guildford Rd home at Guildford when eight shots were fired from a passing car about 11.20pm on Wednesday.

Mahfoud ducked for cover as the bullets peppered the house.

The shooting came only hours after police had attended the home and spoken to Mahfoud as part of their ongoing attempts to suppress the war between the Alameddine and Hamze clans.

Billal Mahfoud was on the patio at the front of his Guildford home when it was fired at. Picture: John Grainger

Multiple shots were fired into the house but no one was injured. Picture: John Grainger

Police at the Guildford home on Thursday morning. Picture: John Grainger

But police sources said it is not clear if last night’s shooting was definitely linked to that feud, with ongoing investigations also looking at whether it was drug related. Mahfoud has not been charged or accused of any wrongdoing.

Detective Superintendent Paul Devaney confirmed that the black Mercedes SUV believed to have been used in the drive-by shooting had previously been reported stolen.

He also said he was “disappointed” that Mahfoud and other residents were not telling them what they knew about the attack.

“Unfortunately the people that we are trying to assist are not assisting us with our enquiries,” Det Supt Devaney said.

“Those people are extremely lucky that they weren’t seriously injured or killed and as I said, it’s really disappointing that the people that we’re trying to assist are not forthcoming in assisting us with our enquiries.”

Mahfoud’s narrow escape came just months after his good friend and fellow Alameddine associate Shady Kanj was gunned down, and only weeks after the deaths of Salim and Toufik Hamze, who he also knew.

“I grew up with him (Salim), we went to school together, he was my friend,” Mahfoud said.

“There were three people in the house, we’ve got a main house and a granny (flat). I was out on the balcony, I don’t know why this happened.”

When asked if he was scared for his safety, Mahfoud replied: “No fear, not one”.

Mahfoud is not accused of any involvement in relation to Salim and Toufik Hamze‘s deaths.

Police at the Guildford home on Thursday morning. Picture: John Grainger

A car was set on fire in South Granville a short time after the shooting. Picture: John Grainger

Moments after the shooting a car was set on fire on Bennett Rd at South Granville, only a few kilometres away.

Video taken in the immediate aftermath showed the car - believed to have been a Mercedes - well alight as fire roared in the gutter along the street, seemingly caused by fuel flowing from the vehicle.

Neighbours in the quiet suburban area said it was the second time in just five months that a burnt out car used in a shooting had been dumped there.

“It’s de ja vu, you can see just there where the car melted into the road last time,” local resident Thomas Burden said.

“I’m over it. It was about 11.25pm just heard this bang and I said ‘it’s another car’. We were in bed, we woke and came out and sure enough, the flames were up to the (electricity) wires - it was really intense.

“I got the phone and rang up Triple-0 and I came out here and was talking to them and it (the car) went bang and they said you better get inside.

“I didn’t hear anything before that, I didn’t hear a car screeching away.”

Police raided a home near the Guildford shooting on Thursday. Picture: John Grainger

Picture: John Grainger

Police took the believed getaway car away for further forensic testing in the early hours of Thursday morning, while rubble caused by the fire remains on the street.

About 10am on Thursday balaclava-clad operations officers carried out a search warrant on a home near the Mahfoud house.

It is believe it related to attempts to gather evidence, including CCTV footage.

Officers from Cumberland Police Area Command are appealing for anyone with information about either incident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. All information will be treated with the strictest of confidence.