Underworld figure Suleiman ‘Sam’ Abdulrahim has survived another assassination attempt as police investigate whether he was lured outside his home before he was shot at in an attempted gangland hit.
The shooting outside the Melbourne home of Abdulrahim, a professional boxer known as ‘The Punisher’, is suspected to be the latest development in the city’s underworld tobacco wars.
It’s understood shots were fired outside Abdulrahim’s home in Larch St, at Thomastown in the city’s north, about 3.15am on Friday morning.
Victoria Police said detectives from the armed crime squad are currently investigating the shooting.
‘Police are working to establish the exact circumstances of the incident and investigations are ongoing,’ police said.
Underworld figure Suleiman ‘Sam’ Abdulrahim (pictured) has survived another suspected assassination attempt following a shooting outside his Melbourne home
Neighbours reportedly heard the commotion before the offenders fled the scene.
Abdulrahim, 32, escaped serious injury but it’s believed officers are investigating whether he was purposely led out of his home to be executed.
The shooting followed another serious attempt on Abdulrahim’s life in 2022 and a recent spate of tobacco shop fires across Melbourne.
It’s suspected illegal tobacco syndicates are responsible for 75 arson attacks since March last year, 49 of which were directed at tobacco shops.
On June 25, 2022, Abdulrahim was peppered with bullets near Fawkner Memorial Park in Melbourne’s north during his cousin’s funeral procession – sparking fears Melbourne’s underworld was set to explode in a wave of violence.
He was shot eight times, including four bullets in the chest, suffering severe damage to his lungs, kidneys and liver.
At the time, Detective Inspector Mark Hatt said there was ‘significant concern’ among the local community of a potential crime explosion.
In 2022, Abdulrahim was peppered with bullets near Fawkner Memorial Park in Melbourne’s north during his cousin’s funeral procession on June 25
The shooting follows a series of tobacco shop fires across Melbourne, which illegal tobacco syndicates are suspected of organising
‘We understand that incidents such as this one cause significant concern across the broader community,’ he said.
‘Rest assured; the indiscriminate use of illicit firearms remains a key focus for Victoria Police. We are committed to targeting those involved in this type of offending and holding them to account.’
Anyone with information or CCTV is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
More to come.
