Gangland and bikie figures killed at the gym, including Omar Zahed, Mick Hawi and Shane Bowden

Australia’s gyms are at the centre of several high-profile gangland incidents in recent years – these are the stories that have left the nation stunned.

The March 2023 shooting of Taha Sabbagh added to a growing list of gangland incidents occurring at gyms.

In 2022 Tarek Zahed was wounded and his brother, Omar, killed outside a western Sydney gym – despite pleas to for the pair to ditch their routines amid claims they had multi-million dollar bounties on Tarek’s head.

“They warned him the other week: ‘Stop going to the gym, change your routine’, but he didn’t listen. They are fuming,” a bikie source said at the time.

Here are some of the gym incidents that have shaken Australia in recent years.

2018: BIKIE KING MICK HAWI SLAIN

The daylight execution of bikie boss Mick Hawi eight years after the Sydney Airport brawl sent ripples through the underworld.

It had been three years since Hawi had been released from jail and he had finally settled down in Bexley when the death knell sounded.

Mick Hawi was gunned down outside Fitness First Rockdale.

Hawi had resorted to work as a standover man in the construction industry when a dispute emerged about how much he was owed.

Then, on February 15, 2018, Hawi was gunned down by two masked assassins outside Fitness First Rockdale. The alleged getaway car was found burnt-out nearby.

The reason for the execution, however, remains a mystery after a NSW Supreme Court jury acquitted two men of murder.

2020: SHANE BOWDEN EXECUTED

Bowden, a former Finks bikie gang ‘Terror Team’ enforcer, was shot 21 times as he arrived home from a late night gym session in his girlfriend’s black BMW in October 2020.

Still strapped into the driver seat with the headlights on, he was ambushed in his garage by two heavily hooded men.

Gold Coast bikie Shane Bowden and his final moments.

The shocking moments, just four minutes after midnight on October 12, 2020, were captured on CCTV footage from down the street of his Pimpama home – vision later used to help track his alleged killers.

One of them allegedly fired 19 shots standing at the driver’s side door.

James Winston Mau’u, Junior Jasmine Torope and Fidel Gunes are among 10 people alleged to have taken part in the murder of former Mongols bikie Bowden.

They remain in custody on remand for that charge.

2022: TAREK AND OMAR ZAHED

Comanchero bikie heavyweight Tarek Zahed was left fighting for life after being shot 10 times, while his brother Omar died after the pair were sprayed with bullets at a western Sydney gym in May.

The brothers were shot as they stood in the foyer of the Body Fit Gym on Parramatta Rd at Auburn about 8pm.

Tarek Zahed (right) with Omar Zahed.

Tarek, 42, was shot in the head, stomach, legs and arms, but later recovered from his injuries.

Omar died at the scene after being shot multiple times.

Two burnt out cars were found in Berala and Greenacre not long after the incident, with both believed to be linked to the shooting.

Zahed had been recently warned by police he had a multimillion-dollar bounty placed on his head by his enemies.

In December 2022 a 22-year-old man had been charged in connection with the shooting.

2022: LEVI JOHNSON STABBING

On September 12 bikie associate Levi Johnson, 23, was stabbed and killed in the carpark of a busy gym in Carindale.

Police alleged a group of men in two cars rammed another car in the gym carpark and started to assault Johnson.

Three men allegedly fled in a white Nissan Patrol, while another had run off on foot.

Just three hours after the attack, there was police movement a few hundred metres from the scene where the first suspect was arrested.

Stuart Galloway, 34, was found shirtless in a park and appeared to calmly co-operate with police as he was arrested.

Levi Johnson was stabbed at Goodlife Carina Heights.

He was later charged with murder.

After a manhunt Kyle Martin, Thomas Myler and Luke Moore were all taken into custody and charged with murder.

Detective Superintendent Andrew Massingham revealed the alleged claim the men were a part of little-known gang, “13 Kings”.

Detectives investigated if Johnson – who was known by the Comancheros but not a patched member – was murdered in a retribution killing after he was in a dispute with a group of men where a gun was pulled on them at a park.

2023: TAHA SABBAGH SHOT DEAD

Sabbagh was killed in a hail of bullets outside a gym on March 2 after a drive-by shooting at Sefton.

The 40-year-old, who both police and underworld sources said was potentially an innocent victim, was understood to be friends with some known underworld identities.

It’s understood a car pulled up outside the gym on Carlingford Street about 6.30am and fired up to 10 shots before driving off.

Forensic police officers examined the scene on Thursday. Picture: Kirsten Jelinek

Sabbagh was treated by paramedics, but died at the scene.

An employee from neighbouring business said the man was sitting in a black Mercedes SUV when he was shot at.