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Bondi Junction shooting: Sydney underworld figure Alen Moradian dead after shots fired into car Police operation under way in Bondi Junction after reports of shooting
(32 minutes later)
Police believe a burnt-out Porsche found at the same time is linked to the shooting Police say road closures are in place around Spring Street in Sydney’s eastern suburbs after reports of ‘shots fired’ and tell motorists to avoid area
A major player in Australia’s cocaine trade has died and three crime scenes are active after shots were fired into a car in Sydney’s eastern suburbs on Tuesday morning. A police operation is underway in Sydney’s eastern suburbs after reports shots were fired on Tuesday morning.
Emergency services were called to Bondi Junction’s Spring Street at about 8.30am following reports a man sitting in a stationary car in a car park had been shot, police said in a statement. A spokesperson for NSW Ambulance confirmed they had multiple vehicles also on the scene.
The man, believed to be in his late 40s, died at the scene, the statement said. They said a single person had been involved, and nobody had been transported to hospital following the shooting.
Police have not publicly released his identity but Guardian Australia has confirmed the victim is drug kingpin Alen Moradian.
Once dubbed the “Tony Soprano” of the Australian cocaine importation trade, he was sentenced to at least six years in prison in 2011 for importing and selling a large quantity of the drug.
Police believe a burnt-out Porsche found on James Street, Bondi Junction at about the same time is linked to the shooting.
Detectives are also investigating a second burnt-out car – a Holden Commodore found on Cook Lane, Zetland – as a line of inquiry.
Three crime scenes have been established, which will be forensically examined by specialist police.
Officers from Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command and detectives from the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad have launched an investigation.
A spokesperson for New South Wales Ambulance confirmed they had multiple vehicles also on the scene.
They said a single person had been involved and nobody had been transported to hospital following the shooting.
The operation was centred on Spring Street, Bondi Junction, NSW police said in a statement just after 9am.The operation was centred on Spring Street, Bondi Junction, NSW police said in a statement just after 9am.
“Road closures are in place and motorists are urged to avoid the area.”“Road closures are in place and motorists are urged to avoid the area.”
Waverley council confirmed on Tuesday morning parts of Bondi Junction between Spring Street and Denison Street would be closed to all traffic, pedestrian and cyclists for the next few hours as a police operation continued. Waverley Council confirmed on Tuesday morning parts of Bondi Junction between Spring Street and Denison Street would be closed to all traffic, pedestrian and cyclists for the next few hours as a police operation continued.
“Please avoid the area,” it posted on social media.“Please avoid the area,” it posted on social media.
🚫 IMPORTANT UPDATE 🚫 A police operation is taking place between Spring St (cnr Newland St) and Denison St in Bondi Junction.This part of Bondi Junction is closed to all traffic, pedestrians and cyclists for the next few hours. Please avoid the area.🚫 IMPORTANT UPDATE 🚫 A police operation is taking place between Spring St (cnr Newland St) and Denison St in Bondi Junction.This part of Bondi Junction is closed to all traffic, pedestrians and cyclists for the next few hours. Please avoid the area.
A worker at the Holiday Inn on Spring Street said he arrived after the shooting but witnessed an ambulance stationed at the apartment next door to the establishment around 9am.
A retail worker at Lumiza Cafe on Spring Street confirmed the street was shut off to traffic.A retail worker at Lumiza Cafe on Spring Street confirmed the street was shut off to traffic.
They said a strong police presence had arrived on the ground from around 8.30am.They said a strong police presence had arrived on the ground from around 8.30am.
“I didn’t hear anything, I was serving customers,” she said, adding “police are still outside now”.“I didn’t hear anything, I was serving customers,” she said, adding “police are still outside now”.
NSW police said on Tuesday morning nobody had yet been arrested in relation to the shooting. More to come