NSW Police Raptor Squad arrests group after two men allegedly tortured, shot in Claymore

Police say it was only “the grace of God” that saved two men, who were allegedly forced into the back of a ute at gunpoint before being shot in a southwest Sydney park by “guns for hire”.

Police say it was only “the grace of God” that saved two men after they were allegedly forced into the back of a ute at gunpoint, before being tortured with a hammer and shot in Sydney’s southwest by “guns for hire”.

Some of those allegedly responsible were acting “almost like an Airtasker for violent criminals”, a senior NSW Police officer said on Tuesday, when new details of last month’s alleged kidnappings were revealed following a series of dawn raids and arrests.

The alleged incident unfolded on August 5, when police were called to a shop in Claymore following reports a 30-year-old man was there with a gunshot wound to his torso.

A short time later, police were called to a reserve on nearby Proctor Way, where a 29-year-old man had been discovered with gunshot wounds to his head and torso.

Police will allege in court that the men had been kidnapped and taken to an unknown area before being tortured with a hammer, “causing significant injury to their hands”.

Officers arrest one of the accused men on Tuesday morning. Picture: NSW Police

Another of the accused men is arrested. Picture: NSW Police

They were then allegedly taken to the Claymore park, where Detective Superintendent Andrew Koutsoufis, the commander of the NSW Police Raptor Squad, said they were to be “shot in the head” and murdered.

Both men were treated by paramedics before being taken to Liverpool Hospital, with the 30-year-old in a stable condition and 29-year-old in a critical condition.

The pair have since recovered from their injuries.

Officers arrest a man. Picture: NSW Police

Police established a crime scene and launched Strike Force Bellshill to investigate the alleged incident, which officers believe to have been “targeted and linked to organised crime”.

More than a month later, about 6am on Tuesday, Raptor Squad officers raided homes in Claymore, Catherine Field, Bradbury, Thirlmere, Oran Park and Eagle Vale.

They arrested five men, aged between 21 and 26, and later laid dozens of charges.

Four of the group face charges that include taking or detaining in company with intent to get an advantage.

Three of the four are also accused of shooting at a person with intent to murder.

The fifth man, who allegedly assaulted a police officer during a search of a Bradbury property, is charged only with assaulting a police officer and hindering or resisting police.

Detective Superintendent Andrew Koutsoufis, the Raptor Squad commander. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

During a press conference on Tuesday, Det Supt Koutsoufis said an axe allegedly used in the kidnapping had been recovered.

Police also seized three vehicles and clothing allegedly worn by the accused men.

Det Supt Koutsoufis said it was “only by the grace of God that both (alleged victims) survived, especially the male who was shot in the head”.

He also told reporters police believed drugs were a “main factor”, and alleged some of the accused men “were acting as almost guns for hire ... almost like an Airtasker for violent criminals”.

While the man accused of assaulting police was granted bail to face court in October, the other four will be kept in custody until they face Campbelltown Local Court.