By Lachlan Abbott
A suburban home in Melbourne’s north with links to alleged gangland figure Mohammed Charif Oueida has been targeted for the second time in less than a week.
Victoria Police did not speak about the incident but in a statement said offenders poured accelerant on the driveway of a Fawkner home on Major Road before setting a parked car alight overnight. They then fled in a waiting vehicle.
Emergency services were called to the property about 3.20am on Thursday. A short time later, a second car – thought to be a white Toyota Camry – was found on fire at the intersection of William and Lowson streets.
There were no injuries, but both fires were being treated as suspicious.
A nearby resident, who spoke anonymously for his safety, said he heard the “thud, thud, thud of what sounded like gunfire” overnight before noticing a glow of what he later discovered was the car fire. Police do not believe shots were fired during Thursday’s attack.
Earlier this week, The Age revealed that the Major Road home containing Oueida’s parents and a child relative was targeted in a shooting on Saturday night.
Security camera footage captured the moment two masked men blasted the home with a shotgun – an attack which caught some underworld players off guard, including Oueida, who was not at the house.
On Thursday, a nearby resident who heard the incidents said they were worried the attacks would become worse.
“To be brazen enough to do this in spite of the strong police presence the last few days … this is terrifying,” the man said.
Police confirmed they’re investigating the connection between the Saturday shooting and Thursday’s car fires.
The blue Toyota Camry torched at the Major Road property was in the driveway when a gunman skulked past and shot at the same house’s front door late on Saturday.
On Thursday morning, police tape surrounded the scene as police scoured for evidence. An SES gazebo protected the burnt-out car in the driveway from light rain.
A scorched gas bottle sat a few metres from the burnt-out vehicle under a separate gazebo.
Mohammed Oueida.
Forensic officers photographed the scene at about 10am. Two women, who appeared to be aged in their 20s, entered the property before that.
Oueida, the alleged underworld figure connected to the targeted home, was previously described as highly charismatic, intelligent and influential.
He allegedly had $6 million in a Swiss bank account, a light plane, a $2.8 million mansion, a Ferrari and property and business interests in Lebanon, the Solomon Islands, Abu Dhabi and Pakistan.
In 2017, he was shot in the abdomen by enemy Omar Tiba as he left a mosque in Coburg with two other men.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
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