The War: Rookie hit men behind Tarek Zahed Sydney gangland hit

Gunmen who attempted to murder Comanchero bikie boss Tarek Zahed made so many mistakes police are convinced they were amateurs with no idea what they were doing. Go inside Sydney’s gangland conflict with The War. WATCH EPISODE ONE HERE

One of the guns used to shoot Comanchero bikie boss Tarek Zahed and kill his brother Omar jammed during the attack.

That was just one of the mistakes by the killers which saw Tarek survive with 10 bullet wounds – including a shot through the eye – when the pair were showered with bullets outside the BodyFit gym at Auburn on May 10.

It’s led police and members of the underworld to believe the attack was the work of amateurs.

Two sources who have seen the full CCTV of the attack said one of the weapons appeared to pause just as one of the bumbling crooks almost shot the other.

“If that gun had not jammed, the bloke would have shot his partner,” one source said.

“Omar is shot first and then one of them runs in front the other guy chasing Tarek.

Tarek Zahed survived the attempt on his life but lost his brother and sight in one eye. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

“That's when the gun jams and saved him shooting the other bloke by mistake.”

He also said Tarek’s mother and another young female relative were also at the gym at the time.

Omar died at the scene and Tarek was left in a coma. He is now talking and walking but has lost vision in one eye and one of his hands has been permanently damaged.

Both sources said the shooters looked young and inexperienced.

“Not only did they not kill Tarek, the cops got the weapon from the car which was not set on fire properly either,’’ he said.

Shortly after the attack, two Audi cars were found set alight in Berala and Greenacre in southwest Sydney and police were able to recover a Glock from the burning wreck.

This car was found burning in Berala shortly after the shooting which left tarek Zahed critically injured and his brother, Omar, dead. Picture: TNV

Experts have told The Telegraph that images of the weapon show that a device known as an “auto sear’’ had been attached to the firearm, turning it in a fully automatic machine pistol capable of shooting at a rate of more than a thousand rounds per minute.

CCTV footage shows one of those involved in the shooting also stood too close to the getaway car when they set it on fire, probably burning themselves.

NSW Police found a burnt gun in one of the car wreckages, another mistake by the killers police believe were amateurs. Picture: Liam Mendes

One senior Detective said: “The shooting at the gym where they just sprayed bullets everywhere was not only reckless but an example of these guys having no idea what they are doing,” he said.

In November 2021 gunmen opened fire at a gym in Prospect, spraying bullets into a nearby childcare centre, narrowly missing little children.

Zahed’s recovery has stunned medical experts.

A senior emergency physician at a leading Sydney Hospital who has experience with gunshot wounds said to be shot so many times and still survive was “incredible”.“To be shot in the head the chances of survival are so small, let alone direct shot through the eyeball, is exceptional,” the doctor said.

He said the angle of the bullet and ballistics of the weapon determined how likely the 41-year-old was to survive.

“Bullets do strange things in the body. They don’t go straight because of the various physics of the tissue but to be shot so many times and still survive is incredible,” he said.

Emergency service personnel managed to keep Tarek Zahed alive long enough for surgeons to save him. Picture: Supplied

A new “super task force” was formed by NSW Police in the wake of Zahed’s shooting to fight the gangland war in Sydney’s southwest which has claimed 13 lives in 18 months.

Senior police met and decided on a new strategy bringing federal police and intelligence into the fight against the gang violence.

“These public acts of violence are dangerous and while they are targeted – regardless of who the victim is – it will not be tolerated. It only takes one stray bullet to injure or kill an innocent person,” Assistant Commissioner Michael Fitzgerald, head of the NSW state crime squad said.

Bullet holes and overturned tables could be seen at the Auburn gym following the Zahed shooting. Picture: Liam Mendes

“Police will not back down; we will continue to target anyone who shows a blatant disregard for community safety.”

Mr Fitzgerald said Task force Erebus would have a sweeping brief to investigate the circumstances and links between the fatal shootings, other acts of violence, the importation and supply of prohibited drugs, illicit firearm supply, co-ordinated theft of vehicles and various other criminal activities.

Omar Zahed, Tarek Zahed’s brother, didn’t survive the shooting. Picture: Facebook

Zahed was widely touted as the next national president of the Comanchero bikie gang before his attack.

Zahed had been made aware by police over recent months that he was a wanted man – adding his name to a list of gangsters with targets ranging in price from $1 million to $7 million on them.

If Zahed was trying to keep a low profile prior to the attempt on his life he didn’t tell close associates, who recently created a TikTok page on which behind-the-scenes photos of his life and bikie activities were shared.

“Everyone’s talking about the whispers around Tarek, but no one knows who is behind it,” an underworld source said prior to the attack.

“Whoever is targeting him is pretty brave, because everyone knows how close he is to (international drug kingpin and Comanchero overlord Mark) Buddle.”

Originally published as The War: Rookie hit men behind Tarek Zahed Sydney gangland hit