Bilal Hamze, 34, farewelled at Lakemba Mosque after shooting

An underworld figure brutally shot dead in Sydney’s CBD last week has farewelled at Lakemba Mosque by a large group of mourners.

Notorious Sydney underworld figure Bilal Hamze has been farewelled at a funeral at Lakemba Mosque just days after being gunned down in a brutal CBD execution-style murder.

A heavy police presence watched on Wednesday as more than 100 mourners gathered to say goodbye to 34-year-old Hamze, who was gunned down in a hail of bullets outside a Bridge St restaurant on Friday night.

At least 15 mourners were seen on Wednesday carrying Hamze’s bright green coffin from a property adjacent to Lakemba Mosque, out onto the street and up the steps into the mosque.

Some 100 family and friends followed the coffin, mostly dressed in dark coloured tracksuits.

Many were seen wearing hooded jumpers and dark masks as the funeral got underway just after 11am.

Many mournat the funeral of Bilal Hamze, who was shot dead on Thursday. Picture: NCA NewsWire

The funeral was held at Lakemba Mosque. Picture: NCA NewsWire

Hamze was shot dead outside Japanese restaurant Kid Kyoto, on Bridge St in Sydney’s CBD, at about 10.25pm on Thursday after dining on kingfish with a female companion.

Mr Hamze died from his bullet wounds after being rushed to St Vincent’s hospital.

Hamze is the cousin of Brothers 4 Life gang founder Bassam Hamzy, who learned of Bilal’s death on Friday from inside Goulburn’s Supermax prison.

Hamzy is serving a 40-year jail term for murder and gang-related offences, having first been jailed in 1999.

Bilal Hamze is his third family member who has died during the past year, after younger brother Mejid was shot dead at his Condell Park home in October and his father Khaled died of illness in August.

Police are pursuing multiple lines of inquiry in relation to Bilal’s death, including the theory there may have been a contract out for his death.

Mourners carried Hamze’s coffin out of the mosque. Picture: NCA NewsWire

The coffin is taken away by a hearse. Picture: NCA NewsWire

Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said at the time the shooting was a “major escalation” in the string of attacks that have rocked Sydney over the past 12 months linked to a dispute between the rival Hamzy and Alameddine clans.

The Hamze and Alameddine feud had officers from Campsie Area Command and Raptor Squad driving up and down Wangee Road patrolling as mourners arrived at the mosque on Wednesday.

Bilal Hamze was murdered on Bridge Street in the Sydney CBD.

“Police were told a number of shots were fired by a person or persons … more than one person anyway, who was passing in a black vehicle,” he said.

“This was a brutal execution-style murder that was carried out in a busy street in the middle of Sydney CBD.

“It was extremely fortunate that no members of the public were injured.

“We believe he left an establishment nearby and as he walked onto Bridge Street he was shot down in a hail of bullets.”

Following the mosque ceremony, Mr Hamze was buried at Rookwood Cemetery.