Man shot dead in the carpark of a Sydney petrol station is identified – as details about his ties to the criminal underworld are revealed

The man shot dead in the carpark of a busy petrol station by a balaclava-clad gunman has been identified as Nidal Acherkouk and he was known to police. 

The shooter remains on the run after police were called to Baptist Street in Surry Hills after locals reported hearing gunshots just before 8pm on Friday.

Officers found Acherkouk, aged in his 30s, near the carpark of a BP petrol station on the corner of Crown and Cleveland Street. 

NSW Police said on Saturday that Acherkouk had links to underworld organisations in Sydney and was known to police. 

South Sydney Police Area Command Superintendent Andrew Garner said the attack was ‘targeted’. 

‘We believe it was targeted, and that he was the intended target of that attack, and there’s no broader risk or threat to the public in relation to this,’ Supt Garner said. 

Supt Garner said Acherkouk had suffered a gunshot wound to his upper body. 

‘He was alone in his vehicle in the service station,’ he told a press conference on Saturday morning. 

The shooter remains on the run after police were called to Baptist Street in Surry Hills after locals reported hearing gunshots at 7.45pm on Friday (pictured is the scene on Friday)

‘After that he got out of the vehicle and went on foot down Cleveland Street where he has succumbed to his injuries.’ 

Supt Garner labelled the incident as ‘outrageous’ and said it demonstrated a lack of regard for public safety in a busy and crowded part of the city.

‘We’ll be working very hard to indentify and arrest those involved and hold them to account,’ Supt Garner said. 

He said police are investigating he movements of the burnt out vehicle. 

Images from the scene showed blood stains on a part of the road near the service station. 

Earlier, a blood-soaked white sheet was seen covering the man’s body as paramedics desperately worked to revive him.

A Porsche, believed to be the getaway car, was found on fire on Kensington Road, in Kensington, about an hour after the shooting. 

Images from the scene showed blood stains (pictured) on a part of the road near the service station

Officers found Acherkouk, aged in his 30s, near the carpark of a BP petrol station on the corner of Crown and Cleveland Street (pictured)

NSW Police said in a statement on Friday night that the shooting and the burnt out car are believed to be linked. 

Swarms of emergency responders, including police and at least five emergency vehicle arrived at the scene. 

Officers secured the intersection of Cleveland and Bourke Streets before a police operation commenced. 

Several people including young children were forced to duck for cover after they heard the sound of gunshots. 

One local who was dining nearby told Daily Mail Australia she heard three gunshots go off in the direction of the BP.

Witnesses had reported seeing the gunman jump from a car before the shooting, while another witness said they saw a ‘bloodied’ man after the incident. 

Another man told the Daily Telegraph he heard ‘bang after bang’ and said ‘everyone just panicked’ as chaos ensured. 

Swarms of emergency responders, including police and at least five emergency vehicle arrived at the scene (pictured) before office secured the intersection

Dozens of diners including families and 

‘People [were] running and screaming everywhere. It was surreal. Terrifying,’ he said. 

Some businesses were forced to shut their doors for the night, with the newspaper reporting that local grocery store Harris Farms told shoppers they had to leave. 

Police later set up a crime scene and investigations into the incident are ongoing.

Anyone with information about the incident has been urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.