Thikran Hashem, Jawad Khan and Omar Abdul-Rahman charged after young girls allegedly held at gunpoint

Three men who allegedly held two young girls at gunpoint during a violent series of crimes across the city have been arrested by police.

Three men who allegedly held two young girls at gunpoint during a violent series of crimes across the city have been arrested by police.

Thikran Hashem, 23, made headlines just a few months ago after being shot while sitting in a car with Najm Ayoub - the brother of slain underworld figures Tarek Ayoub, known in those circles as the “Angel of Death”. There is no suggestion Najm Ayoub is connected with any crime group.

But police allege Hashem is not an innocent victim, but rather has been carrying out a number of crimes across the city in recent months.

Three men who allegedly held two young girls at gunpoint during a violent series of crimes across the city have been arrested by police. Picture: NSW Police

One incident it is alleged he was central to was the firebombing of the Big Sahara Cafe at Lakemba, in the city’s south-west, about 4.30am on Monday, July 22.

That cafe has previously been the target of multiple drive-by shootings and similar arson attacks.

The firebombing of the cafe in July led to the Financial Crimes Squad opening Strike Force Normanton, which soon began working hand-in-hand on a joint investigation with Strike Force Cambridge detectives from the Robbery and Serious Crime Squad.

That was because police allege Hashem and two other men, Jawad Khan, 20, from Guildford, and Omar Abdul-Rahman, 29, from Greenacre, were allegedly working together as a crime clan to carry out not only the cafe firebombing, but also a terrifying home invasion.

The Big Sahara Cafe at Lakemba was allegedly firebombed about 4.30am on Monday, July 22, by Thikran Hashem. It has been targeted in previous drive-by shootings (pictured in 2014) and firebombings. Picture: Bill Hearne

In one incident, a group of men wearing face masks broke into a home on Haldson St in Prairiewood about 2am on Friday, August 30.

Police allege that Hashem, Khan and Abdul-Rahman, were part of the group of men who, armed with guns, threatened a 50-year-old woman and two young girls – aged 8 and 10 – before stealing cash and jewellery.

Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident.

Detectives from the joint investigation arrested all three men last week during dawn raids at Guildford, Greenacre and Bankstown, with police set to allege in court that the trio were operating as the muscle for a larger organised crime network (OCN).

“What we are seeing in Sydney is that organised crime networks are parcelling out jobs to these smaller crews in order to keep themselves clean,” Financial Crimes Squad boss Gordon Arbinja said.

“My message is simple. To anyone considering working for criminal syndicates – don’t. Our officers are tirelessly working around the clock to identify you and bring you before the courts.”

Police have arrested multiple men allegedly involved in burning down businesses, invading homes and committing armed robberies across Sydney., Picture: Supplied/NSW Police

Robbery and Serious Crime Squad commander Joseph Doueihi said police will continue to arrest and charge groups that cause terror in Sydney.

“No one should feel afraid or be threatened in their own home, especially young children. While these attacks were targeted, I want the public to know that we will not stop in pursuing these criminals who feel it is their right to commit these crimes,” Detective Superintendent Doueihi said.

“For those small-time groups who engage in these needless violent crimes on behalf of other criminals, know you are facing the full might of the NSW Police Force.”

Hashem, Khan and Abdul-Rahman were each charged with aggravated break and enter with intent, robbery in company and participating in a criminal group.

Hashem was then also charged with destroying property with fire, while Khan is facing the additional charge of driving while disqualified, with the two men facing Parramatta Local Court on Friday and being formally refused bail.

Abdul-Rahman faced Bankstown Local Court on Thursday where he too was formally refused bail.

On top of the arrests of the three men, police also extradited a fourth man, Azzam Trad, from South Australia on Friday.

Trad was taken to Mascot Police Station and also charged with aggravated break and enter with intent, robbery in company and participating in a criminal group, and faced Parramatta Local Court on Saturday where he was refused bail.