Dover Heights residents left ‘petrified’ over alleged assassination plot

Residents of the affluent eastern suburbs street where two men allegedly tried to assassinate a high profile Sydney identity say they were “petrified” after the incident and are now living in fear.

One of the men being arrested at Dover Heights. Picture: Channel 7

Residents of the affluent eastern suburbs street where two men allegedly tried to assassinate a high profile Sydney identity say they were “petrified” after the incident and are now living in fear.

The two men — Yousif Zrayka and Siaosi Tupoulahi — have been accused of a “very amateurish” conspiracy to execute the high profile person, who they mistook for multiple other drivers, a court has heard.

One of the residents said his wife and child were driving up the street in their luxury car on Thursday when they were allegedly stopped by Zrayka and Tupoulahi during the pair’s hapless search for their target.

The resident said Tupoulahi stopped their wife’s SUV before realising the driver “was a female”, with Sargeant Adrian Walsh also confirming police would allege Tupoulahi “locked eyes” with the driver while brandishing the loaded pistol for approximately 10 seconds.

CCTV vision captured the moment the balaclava clad duo allegedly drove to the top of the street and noticed the luxury SUV driving behind them, before Tupoulahi exited the vehicle from the passenger side and stepped out in front of the SUV. Picture: Channel 7

CCTV vision captured the moment the balaclava-clad duo allegedly drove to the top of the street and noticed the luxury SUV driving behind them, before Tupoulahi exited the vehicle from the passenger side and stepped out in front of the following SUV.

“It is very concerning,” the man, who wished not to be named, told The Daily Telegraph.

The resident said the pair then allegedly approached and “petrified” his neighbour – a man also “doing the school drop-off”, who was behind the wheel of a similar luxury car.

Police allege the men mistook a resident for their target, who was in the car with her child. Picture: Channel 7

Pictures: Channel 7

It is understood the men allegedly thought the second SUV driver was their target and confronted him.

Zrayka is charged with conspiracy to murder, multiple firearm offences, intimidation, taking and driving a vehicle without the owner’s consent, and a police pursuit.

Tupoulahi is charged with conspiracy to murder, multiple firearm offences, intimidation, being carried in a car taken without the owner’s consent, not wearing a seatbelt, and assaulting and hindering police.

The pair were refused bail by a magistrate on Tuesday and will return to court on September 24.

Police officers were spotted driving in marked cars down the street and throughout the suburb on Tuesday, surveilling the area.