Surveillance cops caught gangland murder of hitman Hamad Assaad on film

EXCLUSIVE: Hamad Assaad was under surveillance by the Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad, who were set to raid his home, when he was ambushed in his driveway.

Hamad Assaad, executed at his Georges Hall home on Tuesday, was a hitman with a long list of those who wanted him dead.

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THE gangland murder of underworld figure Hamad Assaad was captured on video by police positioned outside his home as they prepared to raid it.

Assaad was under surveillance by the Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad when he was ambushed in the driveway of his home by two gunmen.

They shot him repeatedly in front of his 12-year-old nephew before speeding off seconds later in a black Audi sedan.

Hamad Assaad, who had the word ‘Executioner’ tattooed across his chest, died in a hail of bullets outside his Georges Hall home last month.

The execution-style murder, which was captured on police video, was over in just 10 seconds.

As the gunmen escaped, detectives rushed to save the 29-year-old victim, but he died at the scene.

Only one member of the surveillance team directly witnessed the killing, about 9.20am on October 25, as the officers had split up and were waiting around the house for Assaad to emerge.

The officer was able to capture 23 seconds of footage on a handheld video camera, showing the gunmen driving from the scene.

Assaad lies dead in his driveway in Condell Park.

The footage has undergone close analysis at the Homicide Squad, though it’s understood CCTV cameras planted around Assaad’s house captured even clearer vision of the incident. Minutes before, officers had been considering raiding his house on Sturt Ave, Georges Hall, in Sydney’s south-west.

Assaad was already the subject of a Firearms Prohibition Order, meaning his home could be raided at any time, day or night, without a warrant.

A senior police official said the detectives were caught in a difficult and highly dangerous situation.

Mourners gather at the funeral of Hamad Assaad.

“The primary thought was on the victim,” he said. “It was split-second stuff.”

Assaad was a prime suspect in several unsolved shootings, including the murder of underworld figure Walid Ahmad, who was killed in April.

A blue Volkswagen with the numberplate GE74WY — shorthand for “getaway” — was parked at Assaad’s house when he was shot. It was one of several vehicles believed to have been used in the Ahmad murder.

Assaad was linked to hits on a number of underworld figures.

The 29-year-old was the prime suspect in the murder of Wahlid Ahmed.

State Crime Command and Homicide Squad sources defended the officers, ­especially the detective who witnessed the murder, saying the incident was unprecedented in recent crime history.

“We’re talking about less than 10 seconds,” another ­official said.

A police spokesman said “operational reasons” prevented them commenting on whether the officers should have chased down the gunmen.

Police fear retaliation attacks following the hit on Assaad.

The MEOCS operation targeting Assaad was not part of ongoing investigations, but rather an effort to “work up” a quick case against him so he could be taken off the streets.

Assaad was considered a high-value target due to his reputation as a gunman for hire. He was particularly brazen, even boasting about his crimes.

The MEOCS officers were part of a 22-strong unit that proactively targets high-risk criminals in short-term investigations to remove them from the streets.