Nowra shootings, carbombings: Police searching for man
Police are investigating three terrifying incidents – including car bombings and public shootings on the South Coast across a four-month period.
The South Coast News
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Police are hunting for a man after a number of public shootings and car bombings, which detectives believe are linked, on the South Coast last year.
Strike Force Keele has been set up to investigate three separate incidents across Nowra over a four-month period, with police fearing an innocent person could get hurt if the people responsible aren’t found.
The bomb squad and South Coast Police officers were called to a Nowra home about 9pm on July 3 after two homemade bombs were thrown on to the windscreens of two cars parked in the driveway.
Surprisingly, both vehicles only suffered minor damage to the front windscreen and bonnet area.
Then shortly after 2am on November 2, a shot was fired into a home on Anatares Close, East Nowra.
Police were told three men were home at the time of the shooting and a shotgun round shattered the glass above where one of the men was lying.
Officers seized a number of items for forensic examination.
In a third incident, a man arrived at his Nowra home about 3am on November 2 to find his house had been damaged by shotgun pellets.
Police believe the two shots were fired into the Peniston Ave house between 12.30am and 2am that morning.
Strike Force Keele has been established by detectives from South Coast Police District to investigate the circumstances surrounding the three incidents, which police say are linked.
South Coast Police District crime manage detective inspector Scott Nelson said police had a number of theories about the motive behind the attacks and feared innocent people could end up hurt or worse.
“I can’t stress how serious these matters are, shots fired in a public place, explosives, the danger of people being killed is insurmountable,” he said.
Det. Insp Nelson said police believe the shootings occurred among people known to each other.
“The mere fact firearms have been used in the community, its terrible to see …,” he said.
“The risk of innocent people shot, shots being misfired, the damage it can cause, I can’t emphasis the risk it poses to the community.”
As investigations continue, detectives are appealing for help from the public to locate a man who may be able to assist with inquiries.
The man is described as being of caucasian appearance, about 180cm tall, with a solid build, brown hair, brown eyes and neck tattoos.
Police believe the three incidents are targeted and are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.