Duo charged after stabbing of Emilio Chalhoub’s father in alleged botched gang attack

Two people have been charged after a 62-year-old man was allegedly stabbed, mistaking him for rapper Ali Younes’ bodyguard. Police have issued a warning against retribution.

Police allege that an incident in Guildford was a botched gang-related attack in a case of mistaken identity. Picture: NSW Police.

A teenager and a young man have been arrested and charged following the brutal stabbing of an innocent 62-year-old father, in what police allege was a botched gang-related attack in a case of mistaken identity.

The 15-year-old boy and 22-year-old man were arrested just over an hour after the Tuesday morning attack, when detectives from Taskforce Falcon executed a search warrant at a property in Wentworthville.

During the search, officers discovered a pile of burning clothes in the backyard, a short time later a vehicle was stopped nearby with the two suspects taken into custody.

During follow-up inquiries, police located a white Subaru — allegedly used as the getaway car — abandoned in Granville at about 6pm and found two knives and a baseball bat inside the vehicle.

Both males were taken to Parramatta Police Station and charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and assault intending to participate in criminal group activity.

The arrest follows the brutal stabbing of a 62-year-old who was attacked outside a home in Guildford around 8am on Tuesday.

Police allege the pair were involved in a targeted attack gone wrong when they arrived at a home on Eve St in Guildford at about 8am on Tuesday, searching for Emili Chalhoub — the reported bodyguard of Ali Younes, an alleged associate of the Alameddine crime network and a known rapper.

The intended target was Ali Younes’ (pictured) bodyguard, Emilio Chalhoub. Picture: Supplied

Instead, they allegedly turned on Emilio’s father, Bassam Chalhoub, stabbing him in the leg mistaking him for his son.

When officers arrived at the scene, the attackers had fled and the seriously injured victim was found alone.

The man was treated for multiple injuries and remains in hospital in a stable condition.

Police have launched a full investigation into the incident, which they say is linked to ongoing tensions between rival criminal groups in the city.

One of the two people arrested. Picture: NSW Police

One of the two people arrested. Picture: NSW Police

Taskforce Falcon commander Jason Box said police were searching for the two other males in the group that allegedly confronted Mr Chalhoub and warned the alleged victims not to retaliate.

“We’re monitoring all persons closely,’’ he told reporters at police headquarters on Wednesday afternoon.

“We’re speaking to the victim, we’re speaking to the other occupants of that house, we’re warning them about not looking for any retribution. We’re also speaking to people we believe were intended targets and we’re also saturating these areas with uniformed and also plain clothes (police) so I hope that doesn’t occur.’’

Supt Box said the alleged knifing could have been fatal.

“There’s every possibility the intent was to cause serious harm to this person,’’ he said.

“The use of a knife can lead to death as a firearm can ­­– it’s just as dangerous in terms of what their intent was, but it was fortunate this person wasn’t killed and he could have been killed.’’

Since Taskforce Falcon was formed in May, 38 people have been charged with 97 offences and recovered 29 cars police alleged were altered or staged to be used in serious crimes.

Supt Box said the recruitment of juveniles to commit alleged offences – including stabbings and potentially shootings – was a concern but detectives were acting swiftly, including the Guildford stabbing in which the teen and young man were arrested within an hour after the alleged knifing.

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