Police arrest armed men near John Ibrahim’s Sydney home

The men were taken into custody after a wild chase through Sydney’s eastern suburbs following reports an armed man was seen near the home of the former Kings Cross nightclub boss.

John Ibrahim leaving his home in Sydney’s Dover Heights. Picture: David Swift

Two armed men have been ­arrested after leading police on a dramatic chase through Sydney’s eastern suburbs after being spotted near the Dover Heights home of nightclub owner John Ibrahim.

The men, 20 and 24, were ­allegedly found in possession of balaclavas and loaded pistols, following a tip off from a member of the public.

They were stopped after leading police on a car chase along Old South Head Road.

One man was arrested in the driver’s seat, while the second fled the vehicle but was arrested after a short chase. Police say they found a semi-automatic and a revolver in the car.

Both men struggled with police, who at that point were unsure whether the pair were still armed. “I’d like to commend the two officers involved who wrestled with both men and fought them,” Detective Inspector Adam Solah said. “They both violently resisted arrest and those detectives still continued to try to detain them even though they thought they were still in possession of firearms.”

Mr Ibrahim’s home at Sydney’s Dover Heights. Picture: Richard Dobson

Police spoke to Mr Ibrahim afterwards. There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by him. Police are working to understand what the men were doing outside Mr Ibrahim’s home. Detective Inspector Solah declined to answer questions about whether the pair were known to police.

“At this point we haven’t ascertained why those two males were in that street”, he said. “What we do know is that one of them was out of the vehicle carrying a firearm that we believe was loaded.”

Both men came from outside the Dover Heights area, he said.

Police were combing the area for evidence and gathering CCTV footage and are expected to maintain a high profile in the area in coming days.

In the blurb for his 2017 autobiography Last King of the Cross, Mr Ibrahim is described as “a tough guy and teen delinquent, then a bouncer, enforcer and nightclub king on the Golden Mile.

“Bullets fly, blades flash and bodies fall. In a city of shadows, John builds his army and empire – partying like a playboy prince of darkness while staying one step ahead of the cops, the outlaw gangs and hungry triggermen, plotting to take him and his family down.”