‘Underworld figure’ killed in Bondi gangland shooting

A Sydney underworld figure with links to a notorious bikie gang has died after being shot in a stationary vehicle next to a popular shopping precinct in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

Police and emergency services respond to reports of a shooting at Bondi Junction this morning. Picture: Liam Mendes

A Sydney underworld figure with links to a notorious bikie gang has died after being shot in a stationary vehicle next to a popular shopping precinct in Sydney’s eastern suburbs in a suspected gangland execution-style slaying in broad daylight.

Alen Moradian.

Emergency services arrived to an underground car park on Spring St in Bondi Junction at about 8.30am on Tuesday after reports a man had been shot.

Police commenced CPR and with the assistance of paramedics attempted to revive the 48 year-old Bondi Junction resident but were unsuccessful.

The dead man is understood to be Alen Moradian, who is believed to be part of an underworld group that rules over Sydney‘s drug market and has links to the Comanchero bikies gang.

Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty says the man involved had “a big target on his back”.

“The shooting this morning bears the hallmark of an organised crime murder. It‘s been treated as that,” he said at a press conference on Tuesday.

“That’s why the homicide squad is taking carriage (of this). We’re focusing all our attention at the moment on obtaining CCTV and witnesses and gaining as much information as we can at the moment.

“We believe this is a targeted shooting … of a high level organised crime identity.

“He’s a major player and because he’s a major player in the organised crime network and also has links to the Comanchero OMCG, high level, he also had a big target on his back.

“We’re saying this is a well-planned executed murder of a high level criminal identity,” he said.

A rubber glove discovered by police and collected as evidence after a burnt out vehicle was found in Zetland following a gangland linked shooting in Bondi Junction. Liam Mendes / The Australian

Moradian pleaded guilty to importing 40kg of cocaine from the US and dealing in 2010 and was sentenced to a maximum term of imprisonment of 16-years and nine months by Sydney District Court Judge Andrew Haesler. The Crown had alleged Moradian had imported 200kg of cocaine.

Moradian’s wife Natasha Moradian accused her husband of “showing off” and cautioned him to act more like the mobster kingpin character Tony Soprano in cult television show The Sopranos, according to an email tendered in a court hearing reported by The Daily Telegraph.

“Why do you just sit there and show off … do you see Tony Soprano doing that? He points it all off on a junior for a reason – to take the heat away from him,” said Mrs Moradian in the email.

“You, on the other hand, want the attention, you get a big head, you love it. People like that won’t survive.”

Police search surrounding streets for evidence following a gangland linked shooting in Bondi Junction on Tuesday morning. Picture: Liam Mendes / The Australian

Mrs Moradian’s email warning came after her husband decked out their home in Pennant Hills – nicknamed “The Versace Palace” and bought luxury cars and motorcycles.

A burnt out Porsche found on James St in Bondi Junction is believed to be linked to the shooting and has been removed.

NSW Police have cordoned off James St, which is near private boys school Waverley College and WeCare kindergarten, at both ends of the street.

The Porsche was removed by a tow truck just before 1.30pm.

The exterior of the vehicle appeared undamaged but there were signs of minor fire damage on the interior.

James St is flanked by the busy Birrell and Council Streets and is near popular sportsground Waverley Oval.

Detectives are investigating whether a second burnt out vehicle, a Holden Commodore, found at the corners of Cook and McPherson Lane in Zetland, is linked to the brazen shooting.

A black rubber glove has been found by officers searching surrounding streets where the burnt out car was found in Zetland.

Police are investigating whether it is linked to the gangland shooting and have placed the glove in a brown paper evidence bag.

Police believe there was more than one shooter.

A NSW Police spokesperson said detectives had established three crime scenes.

Dozens of police and ambulance officers are on Spring St in Bondi Junction while in Zetland, the burnt out Holden Commodore‘s driver seat door has been left open. The vehicle’s windows and rear number plate are no longer on the vehicle.

Detectives, some from the anti-gang Raptor squad, are scouring the scene with assistance from the dog squad.

The vehicle is around a 15-minute drive from the scene of the shooting.