Police explore bikie links in Coburg mosque shooting
UPDATE: CRIME boss Mohammed Oueida has survived a shooting attempt on his life only months after walking out of prison to become a target of criminal rivals.
CRIME boss Mohammed Oueida has survived a shooting attempt on his life only months after walking out of prison to become a target of criminal rivals.
Oueida, 41, who has been in hiding in Queensland after attacks on his Glenroy tattoo parlour, was gunned down in front of children on a busy suburban street.
The drug trafficker was ambushed as he walked with two associates along Moore St after praying at a Coburg mosque at 1pm on Monday.
CCTV footage reveals that he was shot in the stomach when a silver BMW X5 pulled up alongside the trio.
Oueida’s associates bundled him into a Lexus and later dropped him at nearby John Fawkner Private Hospital, where he remains in a serious but stable condition.
Police officers were quickly on the scene to speak to witnesses. The BMW was stolen from Laura Grove in Avondale Heights on Monday morning.
Oueida was released from prison late last year, causing disruption within the criminal fraternity in Melbourne’s north, particularly with a dominant Middle Eastern crime family. Oueida — a former millionaire drug dealer now linked to the Comanchero bikie gang — has a long list of enemies.
But he has the backing of known violent criminals, too, prompting fears of vengeful further gun violence.
Detectives are probing whether bikies or Middle Eastern gang members were behind the drive-by shooting, but have appealed for more information.
Tension between rival Middle Eastern gangs and bikie gangs has led to several recent shootings in northern suburbs, police say
Oueida and the two associates who were with him have refused to talk to police.
Echo Taskforce Detective Acting Inspector Stuart Bailey said they believed it was a “targeted attack”.
“There was a volley of shots fired from what we believe to be the front passenger area. There were kids on bikes in the street at the time and some of the rounds penetrated a fence where people were home at that premises.”
He said police needed to speak to “key witnesses”, including two men aged in their 20s they spoke to in a laneway, and another man also in traditional Islamic attire.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Originally published as Police explore bikie links in Coburg mosque shooting
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