The two men shot in a botched barber shop assassination are brothers with links to bikie gangs and organised crime figures, it has been reported.
William, 33, and Eric Siale, 20, were shot by a masked gunman at Adel’s salon on Marrickville Road, in Sydney’s inner west, just before 2pm on Friday.
The brothers, of Pacific Islander descent, were both hit – one in the chest and the other in the lower back. Both men are recovering in Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
William, 33, and his brother Eric, 20, were inside Adel’s hairdressing salon when a masked gunman burst in and shot them
The pair were rushed to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
Police sources told the Daily Telegraph that William – also known as ‘Tonga’ – was a fully patched member of the Bandidos bikie gang and had been a close associate of Comanchero bikie Fares Abounader before his death in 2020.
Eric, meanwhile, was a friend of several slain members of the Hamzy clan.
There is no suggestion that either brother was involved in organised crime.
Witnesses previously said they saw one of the men dive in front of a bullet to protect his brother.
NSW Police said on Friday they are investigating links between the shooting and the killing of cocaine kingpin Alen Moradian at Bondi Junction.
However, underworld sources have discounted that idea.
A witness claimed the shooter was carrying two guns when he opened fire on the two men inside the salon. One of the men reportedly dived in front of the other during the carnage
Police sources said the victims have links to the Bandidos bikie gang and were known to them
‘Tonga’ has been around for a long time, he was good mates with Fares (Abounader),’ one source told the Telegraph.
‘(Eric) was also close to all the dead Hamzys from the last few years. Who knows why they have been shot at though, it could just be isolated.
‘People are saying this may be a shot at the Bandidos to make it look like retaliation for Moradian, because they weren’t involved in that.
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‘We have seen throw offs from time to time, to make police think they’re involved in a hit.’
Shocking footage from the scene shows one shirtless man lying on the floor while a police officer gives him first aid.
Another officer was also seen trying to calm down a second man in the salon.
Former NSW police officer Peter Moroney said the offenders tried to ‘manhandle’ one or two of the witnesses who were filming the shocking incident.
A silver Kia Stinger was set on fire in nearby Sydenham in the aftermath of the shooting on Friday afternoon. Police also reportedly found a burnt-out Mitsubishi Triton
NSW Police Superintendent Despa Fitzgerald said he believed it was a ‘targeted attack’
‘A couple of the offenders dealt with one or two of the witnesses that were filming them yesterday and tried to manhandle them as well,’ he told Nine’s Today show on Saturday morning
‘If you do see crimes like this unfold, whilst it is a temptation to gather evidence, look after yourself first instead of trying to get involved.’
NSW Police Superintendent Despa Fitzgerald said police believe a silver Kia Stinger found in flames on Park Road in nearby Sydenham was used as a ‘getaway car’.
A Mitsubishi Triton was also reported on fire just minutes later on Hercules Street in Dulwich Hill.
Police are also trying to track down a white Toyota Camry, with registration plates DMM59H, that police believe one of the shooters may have gotten into after the incident.
‘It is very brazen and that’s why we believe it was a targeted attack, it’s not random and it’s fortunate no other member of the public was involved in that incident,’ Superintendent Fitzgerald said.
Another underworld source warned that a brazen gang war could be erupting in Sydney again.
‘Sydney is on fire right now,’ the source said.
‘It is just like it was in the middle of last year, it may even be worse actually.
‘You’ve got players sitting overseas, big players who are not even from Australia, running a proxy-war here because our drug market is just so profitable. It is a scary.’
