Alleged Brothers for Life gang members arrested over shootings
|
Version 0 of 1. The leader of a Brothers for Life gang faction allegedly involved in several shootings across Sydney in recent months has been caught, police say. Three members allegedly holding leadership positions in the gang were arrested on Wednesday in police raids on properties on the central coast and in Sydney. One of the men is Farhad Qaumi, whom police claim has played a role in the shootings. "It will be alleged he is a leader of a group and leader of a faction that has been involved in most of the shootings that have occurred in Sydney in the last three or four months," NSW Police deputy commissioner Nick Kaldas told reporters on Thursday. Strike Force Sitella was formed last year to investigate the string of shootings in the last half of 2013. Police say they know who was involved in the shootings, but the three arrested Brothers for Life members have not been charged over any of them. "We pretty much know what has happened with just about all of the shootings that have occurred in the last 12 months," Kaldas said. Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad commander, Det Supt Deborah Wallace, said those involved should come to police before officers came to them. "They know who you are," she said. "I suggest you knock on our door before they knock on yours." Police believe that internal fighting in the gang started when a group emerged outside of the traditional Bankstown chapter. But Kaldas said those who had caused most of the damage were in custody or had been "neutralised". He expects more charges to be laid in the next few weeks. Kaldas said the numbers of the Brothers for Life gang were shrinking and there wouldn't even be a couple of dozen left. But investigations were not over. "Speculation that this is the end of the group is probably premature," he said. "While these are significant arrests, this is not the end." Qaumi came to notice last week after he was found with a gunshot wound at Bondi Beach shortly after a cruiser was peppered with bullets at Rose Bay wharf. Det Supt Gavin Dengate of Operation Talon said there had been a 44% reduction in shootings between 2012 and 2013. There were 54 shootings in 2013, compared with 98 in 2012. "That reduction for 2013 is the lowest number of incidents since 2000," Dengate said. The three men arrested on Wednesday are due to appear in court on Thursday. They are Qaumi, 31, from Chittaway bay, a 29-year-old man from Wyong and a 27-year-old man from Auburn. They have been charged with drug and weapon-related offences. Qaumi and the 29-year-old are also charged with knowingly directing the criminal activities of a group. Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |