Inside NSW’s most notorious bikie, gangster funerals
Sydney’s underbelly has exploded into a mess of bloodshed, leaving behind bodies of the city’s most notorious bikies and gangsters. These were some of NSW’s most infamous funerals.
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Sydney’s underbelly has exploded into a mess of bloodshed in recent years, leaving behind the bodies of some of the city’s most notorious bikies and gangsters.
From dodgy drug deals to revenge attacks or rival clubs trading bullets, some of the Harbour City’s toughest crooks have been laid to rest, only adding to the spate of violence across our streets.
From top bikies to small-level associates, these are some of NSW’s notable bikie and ganster funerals.
HAMAD ASSAAD
Contract killer Hamad Assaad, who mixed with the Hells Angels, was gunned down by two black-clad shooters outside his Georges Hall home in 2016 in front of his mother and 12-year-old nephew.
The 29-year-old called himself “The Executioner: and had it tattooed on his neck.
He ripped off drug gangs as he tried to show he was different to other criminals – more dangerous, more money-hungry and more bloodthirsty.
But it ultimately led to his downfall.
The contract killer was believed to be behind attempts on the lives of some of Sydney’s most notorious underworld figures and their relatives.
He was farewelled at Lakemba Mosque drawing a large congregation of friends and family who honoured his memory.
MICK HAWI
The brutal murder of Comanchero boss Mahmoud “Mick” Hawi in 2018 sent shockwaves through the Emerald City’s criminal milieu.
It was just after midday on February 15, when a balaclava-clad gunman, dressed in black, leant into the window of Mick Hawi’s Mercedes SUV and peppered the bikie boss with bullets.
Six rounds were fired into his face and neck, killing the national president of the notorious bikie gang, outside Rockdale Fitness First, in Sydney’s southern suburbs.
Mourners arrived in a fleet of luxury vehicles to send off murdered Comanchero boss at his funeral.
The funeral, held in the southern Sydney suburb of Arncliffe, was heavily monitored by police, who took photographs of every man, woman and child who arrived for the service.
Fellow bikies and friends of Hawi shook hands and filed into the Al-Zahra Mosque.
Dressed in black, but not wearing their club colours or gang patches, the mourners prayed over Hawi’s body.
Lone Wolf bikie Yusuf Nazlioglu was charged with Hawi’s murder but was later acquitted by a jury in 2020 before he was shot himself in 2022.
The gunman fled the scene before a burnt-out car was found a short time later in Greenacre.
BILAL HAMZE
Infamous Sydney underworld figure Bilal Hamze was farewelled at a funeral at Lakemba Mosque just days after being gunned down in a brutal CBD execution-style murder in 2021.
The cousin of Brothers for Life founder Bassam Hamzy was warned by NSW Police several times about the threat to his life.
He was ambushed and shot multiple times by men inside a black Audi sedan after leaving a restaurant with a woman.
A heavy police presence watched on as more than 100 mourners gathered to say goodbye to 34-year-old Hamze.
Bilal’s brother Ibrahem Hamze and cousin Ghassan Amoun had to fight to have their SCPO relaxed so they could both attend the farewell.
Following the Mosque ceremony, Mr Hamze was buried at Rookwood Cemetery.
ERKAN KESKIN
A thundering motorcade of Lone Wolf bikies dressed in club colours descended on a western Sydney Mosque in 2022 for the funeral of feared boss Erkan “Eric the Wolf” Keskin.
Keskin – whose photo mourners pinned to their chests in a sign of respect – died from a suspected heart attack in Turkey after partying for six days in a row.
Comanchero Tarek Zahed also arrived at the Mosque on a motorbike, while another mourner arrived in a red Ferrari sports car.
Significantly, a big contingent of Mongol bikies was also present as the service started inside the Mosque with Islamic prayers.
Keskin was seen as one of the most dangerous drug bosses in Sydney’s criminal network despite living overseas for the last two years of his life.
MAHMOUD ‘BROWNIE’ AHMAD
Fallen underworld figure Mahmoud “Brownie” Ahmad was laid to rest with a hefty police presence around the streets of Lakemba in 2022.
Family and friends helped carry Ahmad’s body into the Lakemba Mosque as police swarmed the streets.
The emotional mourners were seen hugging each other throughout the procession.
Unlike other underworld funerals there were no procession of flash cars, no motorbikes and only a small crowd to say goodbye to the once-feared enforcer.
Ahmad was gunned down in a hail of bullets outside a home on Narelle Crescent in Greenacre last April.
The gunman fled the scene before a burnt-out car was found a short time later in Greenacre.
Three men linked to the murder were charged.
OMAR ZAHED
The brother of Comanchero bikie boss Tarek Zahed was fatally shot outside Bodyfit gym in Auburn last year.
He was treated for multiple gunshot wounds to his body before going into cardiac arrest and passing.
He was shot alongside his brother, but Tarek managed to survive the ambush despite enduring gunshot bullets to the head.
Family and friends gathered at Lakemba Mosque before heading to Rookwood Cemetery for Omar’s funeral.
At the time Tarek was still in a serious condition in hospital and could not attend the service.
NSW Police and Raptor squad officers were visible throughout the funeral proceedings.
MURAT GULASI
High-ranking underworld associate Murat Gulasi was laid to rest in Sydney last year, less than a week after his sudden death in Turkey.
The 33-year-old died of a suspected heart attack in front of shocked friends after a gym session. He was known to be receiving treatment for a heart condition before leaving the Harbour City earlier that year.
Hundreds turned up at Gallipoli Mosque in Auburn to pay their respects to a man police sources described as a low-key, but powerful member of the Alameddine clan. Security guards stood at the entrance to the mosque as his coffin, draped in a green Islamic sheet, sat at the entrance to the Mosque.
Among those gathered were fellow alleged Alameddine associates Ali “Ay Huncho” Younes, Mostafa Hafizi and Mohamad Alameddine.
Manly speedster Jason Saab also paid his respects to the fallen gangster.
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