CCTV captures horror attack in Sydney

CCTV footage has emerged of the moment two gunmen ambushed a service station in an up-market part of Sydney, leaving a man dead.

One shooter was clad in what appeared to be a dark hooded sweatshirt and tracksuit pants, and the other in a dark rain cape. The duo were seen approaching their victim, Niddal Acherkouk, in his car at around 7.45pm on Friday.

Footage shows the man in a cape holding what appears to be a gun in each hand as bullets were fired at Acherkouk, aged in his 30s, while in his car at the BP service station. He then fled down the busy Cleveland Street in Surry Hills with a gunshot wound.

“He got out of the vehicle and went on foot down Cleveland Street, generally west to a point where he eventually died near Baptist Street on Cleveland Street,” NSW Police Superintendent Andrew Garner said.

Later, a Porsche was found engulfed in flames nearby in Kensington, with police believing the incident is linked to the shooting.

Acherkouk, who The Daily Telegraph reports had links to a bikie gang, had been in the company of a young child when the attack occurred.

The gunman remains on the loose and while the shooting was “definitely a targeted attack”, there’s no wider risk or threat to the public, police said.

“The male who died had known links to organised crime so on that basis, we believe it was targeted – that he was the intended target of that attack,” Spt. Garner said.

He issued a message for those on the offenders: “This outrageous incident demonstrated a high level of reckless indifference to the public around that area at the time … we’re coming for you”.

A bystander spoke of their shock at the incident happened in such a nice part of Sydney.

“I was in an Uber trying to get home, Crown St was packed with pubgoers and diners who were oblivious, but as we got closer to Cleveland Street it was clear something major had gone down,” she told news.com.au.

“I’ve never seen so many cops in my life, the roads were closed, traffic was being diverted and it was madness.”

While a Crown street business owner told The Telegraph: “They were huge bangs, one after the other, really quickly”.

“Everyone was screaming, running. People said ‘we are under attack’.”

Meanwhile, a mother grabbed her children and ran into a tobacconist yelling at them to “close the door now”.

In “chaotic” scenes more than a dozen police cars raced to assist, and a police helicopter circled above. This all took place as revellers enjoying their Friday night left busy pubs and bars to see what was going on.

Nearby businesses including Harris Farm told customers to leave, with some closing early.

A NSW Police spokesperson said emergency services were called to Baptist Street Surry Hills, near Cleveland Street, after reports of shots fired, at about 7.45pm on Friday.

“On arrival, officers from Surry Hills Police Area Command found a man, believed to be aged in his 30s, had suffered a gunshot wound,” the spokesperson said.

“He was treated at the scene by ambulance paramedics and first responders.”

However, the man died soon after.

“A crime scene has been established and an investigation has commenced.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Acherkouk had been involved in a prior incident where three men attempted to kidnap him last year.

A man wearing a balaclava ran at Acherkouk as he left a gym in Punchbowl, and they wrestled as the car moved.

The vehicle crashed into the front window of the store.

A police investigation revealed three men – all wearing balaclavas – were seen fleeing the scene in a white van.

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