Foiled plot to kill Sam Abdulrahim was likely 10 days in the making

Fresh details have emerged about the foiled plot to kill former Mongols bikie Sam Abdulrahim – and it started with a trip to Bunnings.

The plot to kill organised crime figure Sam “The Punisher” Abdulrahim appears to have been at least 10 days in the making.

Detectives have tracked a suspect in the shooting back to his purchase of two plastic fuel cans at a Bunnings store in Epping on the night of June 15.

On June 25, former Mongols bikie Abdulrahim was ambushed and shot eight times as he sat in his Mercedes-Benz at the funeral of his cousin in Fawkner.

Investigators believe the jerry cans were to carry fuel which was to be used to incinerate the car from the bungled Abdulrahim hit.

The would-be killers then spent the next 10 days looking for the right opportunity to strike.

It is unclear for how long it was publicly known that the funeral would be held but it is unlikely it had been announced on the 15th when the Bunnings purchase was made.

Police have traced the purchase of two fuel cans from a Bunnings store to one of the shooting suspects. Picture: Victoria Police

Sam ‘The Punisher’ Abdulrahim is believed to be making a strong recovery following the shooting. Picture: Instagram

Abdulrahim was ambushed and shot eight times as he sat in his Mercedes-Benz at the funeral of his cousin in Fawkner. Picture: Supplied

The young man caught on CCTV buying the cans at Bunnings appears to be consciously trying to use a jacket hood to avoid his face being captured on store cameras.

He returns to the near-deserted car park and climbs into the passenger side of a Subaru WRX with at least two others on board.

The jerry cans were never put to use.

As the shooters sped from the cemetery shooting scene on June 25, they crashed their Mazda SUV into a fire hydrant and pole on Box Forest Rd.

That ruined any chance they had to torch the Mazda and destroy fingerprints and DNA linking them to the crime.

Minutes later, one of them jumped into a bin at the back of a fast food restaurant but lasted less than a minute before scrambling out and heading elsewhere.

Another was seen on CCTV a short time later carrying a plastic bag and walking in a street in Epping.

A Ford Territory stolen from a family in a carjacking just after the Mazda crash was found in Epping later that day.

The sheer number of things that went wrong on the day would have given police a good start in solving the case.

The intense police scrutiny from the armed crime squad and Echo task force may only be one area of concern for the hit team.

Abdulrahim is one of the most well-connected figures in the world of Middle-eastern organised crime and also has strong bikie links from his time with the Mongols.

Those who engaged the men to carry out the funeral attack may also be concerned about the potential implications of such a botched crime.

After fleeing the crashed Mazda, one of the men ran towards a Sydney Rd KFC. Picture: Victoria Police

...where he tried to hide in a dumpster before abandoning the idea seconds later. Picture: Victoria Police

Abdulrahim checked himself out of the Royal Melbourne Hospital less than three weeks after the shooting.

The fit kickboxer is believed to be making a strong recovery and has been supported by former Mongols clubmates who left the club since a new leadership regime took charge in April.

Abdulrahim was shot while sitting in his Mercedes. Picture: Brendan Beckett

New boss Phil Main booted Toby Mitchell and there was a cluster of other departures which followed.

Among them were Abdulrahim and Mark Balsillie, who within days of the Mitchell outing flew to Queensland and quit the gang face-to-face.

Main spoke to Abdulrahim days after the ambush and told him there was no Mongols link to what had happened.

Three members, including a chapter president, who stayed after the autumn upheaval were arrested this week in unrelated raids by the Echo task force.

Two of those men were later charged in relation to a road rage firearms incident in Thomastown on July 11.

It is alleged a gun was pointed out the window of a white Toyota Kluger at another car after a minor traffic altercation.

The Bertie St, Port Melbourne, stronghold of the gang was searched by investigators during this week’s operation.