Underworld shooting sees Niddal Acherkouk killed in Cleveland St, Surry Hills; gunmen on loose

Horrified bystanders including children ran for cover after a gunman opened fire on a Surry Hills street, killing Niddal Acherkouk in a terrifying gangland assassination.

The man shot dead at a Surry Hills service station has been identified as Niddal Acherkouk. Police have confirmed he has links to Sydney’s underworld, and is known to them.

Acherkouk, who is understood to have associations to a prominent bikie gang, was shot multiple times by a balaclava-clad gunman at the intersection of Cleveland and Crown streets just before 8pm on Friday.

Ambushed.... Niddal Acherkouk. Picture Supplied.

South Sydney Police Area Command Superintendent Andrew Garner said Acherkouk suffered a gun shot wound to his upper torso but would not confirm how many shots were fired at him.

“He was alone in his vehicle in the service station,” he said.

“After that he got out of the vehicle and went on foot down Cleveland Street where he has succumbed to his injuries.”

Superintendent described the incident as “outrageous”.

Sources told The Saturday Telegraph Acherkouk was en-route to a nearby Turkish restaurant when he was shot.

Meanwhile, an underworld source said while Acherkouk was an associate of the Comanchero bikie gang, he was not a member and was a builder by trade.

“He was close with a [Comanchero] named ‘Snake’,” the source said.

The source said Acherkouk was also linked to relatives of ex-Comanchero boss Mark Buddle.

Members of the public run to the aid of Acherkouk. Picture Supplied.

Niddal Acherkouk falls to the ground

on Cleveland St after he was shot.

Police and paramedics tend to Acherkouk was shot in Surry Hills. Picture: Matrix News

Police are still hunting for the gunman. Picture: Matrix News

“This displays a high level of reckless indifference to the public who were around at that time,” he said.

“We are working hard to identify and arrest those involved.”

The officer had one simple message for those involved: “we are coming for you”.

Witnesses reported seeing the gunman flee the scene in a Porsche, which was found burnt out a few suburbs away on Kensington Rd in Kensington a short time later.

NSW Police said in a statement that early indications in their investigation suggested the shooting and burnt-out car were linked, with the two a common hallmark of underworld hits in recent years.

Superintendent Andrew Garner Superintendent Andrew Garner speaks about the underworld shooting that occurred last night in Surry hills. Picture Thomas Lisson

It is understood that the victim of the shooting had a young child in his company at the time.

Witnesses told the Telegraph they heard four gun shots, before the injured man stumbled up the street and collapsed.

Several bystanders ran to his aid, while the alleged gunman took off along on Crown St in a Porsche.

Witnesses said the area was packed with people dining on Crown St, with several running for cover as they heard the shots ring through the area.

“I heard bang after bang and everyone just panicked,” one man said.

“People running and screaming everywhere. It was surreal. Terrifying.”

Footage obtained from a business on Crown St showed several people, including young children, running into the store for cover. A witness described the scene as “chaos”, with police scrambling to close off the busy intersection of Cleveland and Crown streets as hundreds of onlookers gathered.

Business were forced to shut their doors with prominent supermarket Harris Farms telling patrons they must leave immediately.

#ClevelandStreet Cleveland Street now closed to all traffic and pedestrians pic.twitter.com/S41TGpWWqK

— Surfin' Jase (@surfjaseoz) November 22, 2024

A police officer at the scene said witnesses saw the gunman jump from a car before shooting the man.

“He was then seen jumping into another car after the shooting, before fleeing the scene,” the officer told The Saturday Telegraph.

Police were called to the scene following reports of shots fired. Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer

Acherkouk, aged in his 30s, died at the scene. Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer

Police said Acherkouk died at the scene. Picture: Matrix News

Police cars and ambulances rush to the scene of the Cleveland St shooting. Picture: Elliott Stewart

In a statement, NSW Police said about 7.45pm, emergency services were called to Baptist St in Surry Hills, near Cleveland St, after locals called Triple-0 to report shots fired.

“On arrival, officers from Surry Hills Police Area Command found a man, believed to be aged in his 30, had suffered a gunshot wound,” the statement said.

“He was treated at the scene by Ambulance Paramedics and first responders ... but he died at the scene.

“A crime scene has been established and an investigation has commenced.”

One witness said that in the haste of making their escape, the door of a getaway car was left wide open as the vehicle drove off, before hearing the sounds of screams as the man lay bleeding profusely on the ground.

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