Claims gym shooting was retaliation hit for kidnapping of high-profile businessman

Taha Sabbagh’s death was a payback hit, underworld sources claim, for an extraordinary attack where a jeweller was kidnapped and tortured for almost 24 hours. The jeweller is not accused of any involvement in the shooting.

The fatal shooting of a father outside a gym could have been retaliation for the kidnapping of a high-profile Sydney businessman, sources claim.

Taha Sabbagh, 40, was gunned down in front of his 12-year-old son as they arrived at Elite Fight Force gym in Sefton on Thursday morning.

The father-of-two and car hire business owner was shot six times in the chest as he dropped his son to a 6.30am boxing lesson, and died at the scene.

Underworld sources told The Daily Telegraph Mr Sabbagh’s killing was likely to be a payback hit for an extraordinary attack in 2022 where a jeweller was kidnapped and tortured for almost 24-hours, and only released when a ransom rumoured to be close to $10 million ransom was paid.

In a terrifying video of the businessman’s capture in October, he can be heard begging for his release and for his connections to help him.

Sefton gym shooting victim Taha Sabbagh poses with the UFC belt.

“Whatever it is you can get off them, tell them I’ll pay them after. I’ll pay whatever it is, please I beg you get me out of here please,” the man pleaded in the video.

While there is no suggestion Mr Sabbagh was directly behind the kidnapping, sources said the shooting - whether he was the intended target or not - was a “warning sign” to criminal group members, some of whom attend the gym.

The gym itself is not accused of any involvement.

“Some of the crew at that gym were behind the (businessman’s) kidnapping...this is a retaliation,” the underworld source said.

A crime scene at Elite Fight Force gym in Sefton. Picture: Jeremy Piper

The Daily Telegraph does not suggest the businessman, who is overseas, is involved in any criminal activity nor the shooting of Mr Sabbagh.

However, he is understood to be linked to some heavy criminals who would retaliate for him.

The gym remained closed on the weekend but was due to open again on Monday.

Owner Hany Sbat is overseas competing at an MMA event and has been out of the country for several weeks.

Taha Sabbagh’s funeral at Lakemba Mosque. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

He is said to be “upset and angry” by Mr Sabbagh’s killing and the attack on his gym.

NSW Police sources said the gym had been raided in the past by officers from the Raptor squad and multiple members had been served with Firearm Prohibition Orders.

An FPO allows police to stop and search a person, their car or even a house they are visiting without a warrant.

“They are some of the heaviest of heavy crooks at that gym...it will be on now, these boys will retaliate too,” an underworld source said.

Mr Sabbagh was buried on Saturday following a ceremony at the Lakemba mosque.

His son who witnessed the killing and was heard screaming out “help, help, my dad’s been shot” was seen bravely supporting his mother and younger sibling as they were surrounded by hundreds of mourners.

Family members wiped back tears as they carried the green coffin of the 40-year-old up the mosque steps.

Several members of Sydney’s underworld were also in attendance, some of whom frequent the gym at which Sabbagh was killed.

UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev posted a tribute on Instagram ahead of Sabbagh’s funeral.

Islam Makhachev posts a picture on Instagram with Taha Sabbagh.

Makhachev posted a photo of him and Sabbagh - which was taken after he beat Alex Volkanovski in a controversial fight to win the lightweight title last month. The photo was accompanied by a broken heart emoji.

Mr Sabbagh’s body went through a traditional Islamic preparation with his family before the emotional ceremony began about lunch time.

After the mosque service, Mr Sabbagh was buried at Rookwood Cemetery.

“Nobody saw this coming,” a preacher from inside the mosque service said.

Police are still searching for two gunmen who waited outside the gym in a stolen Mazda 3, before one masked man ran up to Mr Sabbagh’s car and fired six shots through the windscreen.

The two wanted men fled in the stolen hatchback which was later found burnt out at Birrong train station.