Celeb dentist’s relative targeted after brutal hammer attack

Dr Zafiropoulos was in hospital recovering from surgery on his skull when a relative discovered petrol on her doorstep after hearing noises outside her Arncliffe home.

Dentist Dr William Zafiropoulos was targeted by men armed with hammers at his Miranda practice — now a relative has found petrol poured outside her door.

A female relative of a celebrity dentist William Zafiropoulos’s home has been doused in petrol just days after he was horrifically bashed with a claw hammer in a targeted attack.

Dr Zafiropoulos, who owns and operates Classic Smiles at Miranda, suffered brutal head and arm injuries in a gruesome attack when two men stormed his Central Rd surgery on February 24at 9.15am.

Police said it was possible the attackers were Pacific Islander in appearance and wearing neat, smart clothing.

Four days later, while Dr Zafiropoulos was in hospital recovering from surgery on his skull, a relative discovered petrol on her doorstep after hearing noises outside her Arncliffe home.

NSW Police raptor squad detectives, who have established a strike force for both attacks, are convinced theyare linked.

Police said a 64-year-old woman was inside her Belmore St home when she heard noises.

Dentist Dr William Zafiropoulos.

“When she went to the front door, the woman found a liquid – believed to be a flammable substance – poured across the entrance,” NSW Police said in a statement.

On Wednesday, Raptor Squad acting commander Richard Puffett told reporters the incident could have been worse.

“It was a sheer fluke or luck that it wasn’t ignited and that would have been catastrophic in its consequences should that have ignited on the day,’’ he said.

Dr Zafiropoulos, who was last year ordered by a court to repay a $7.89m “spotters fee” to a Sydney property developer, was treating a patient when unknown men ambushed him.

The men directed the owner to another room of the surgery and assaulted the dentist they fled.

“He was taken to another room but again, the patient to my understanding was witness to it and obviously traumatised by it,’’ Supt Puffett said.

There is no suggestion of any involvement by the developer or any connection to the court proceedings.

Terrified reception staff called 000 after seeing Dr Zafiropoulos dragged away, then hearing him moaning for help.

Classic Smiles has been closed since the attack while Dr Zafiropoulos recovers.

The NSW Supreme Court last year ordered Dr Zafiropoulos repay the money he claimed was paid to him after introducing a developer and his associates to a commercial site where an apartment complex was earmarked to be built.

The Daily Telegraph has been told about $2m of the repayment remains outstanding, although there is no suggestion this is related to the hammer attack or the attempted arson.

Detective Acting Superintendent Puffett issued a plea for public assistance following the “savage nature of the attack” on Dr Zafiropoulos.

“(It) was savage to the extreme and it’s something we’ve jumped on straight away to find some sort of resolution,’’ he said.

“He’s in a stable condition but it will be a long recovery.’’

Supt Puffett said he was co-operating with police and the incident was targeted.

“We don’t believe there’s a danger to the general public,’’ he said.

“We’re looking at all options at the moment, we’re keeping an open mind, we’re looking at all dealings in relation to the victim, we’re looking at any associated factors. We believe it’s targeted, we don’t believe it’s a random attack.

Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed either attack, or who may have dashcam footage from Belmore St Arncliffe between 8am and 10am on February 28, to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.