Sydney’s underworld violence intensified over the weekend with the critical shooting of a man believed to be targeted due to his family connections. Emad Alameddine, 29, was shot at his home in Guildford just before 8 p.m. on Saturday by gunmen wearing balaclavas. He remains in critical condition following the attack.
Emad is reportedly related to Bilal Alameddine, a known figure in organised crime. However, police and sources indicate that Emad himself is not involved in the ongoing gang conflict affecting Sydney’s streets. He was released on parole last month for driving offenses and is not believed to have any direct ties to organised crime activities or the broader Alameddine network.
NSW Police are continuing their investigation and have not yet established a clear motive for the shooting. Initial inquiries are focusing on whether Emad was deliberately targeted amid an ongoing campaign of violence against the extended Alameddine family. This recent assault marks the third attack on relatives linked to this crime clan in recent months. Earlier incidents include a home invasion in South Wentworthville in August and a failed shooting during a school pick-up in June.
The Alameddine group has been embroiled in multiple violent disputes over the years, most recently with the Coconut Cartel, a faction believed to be led by exiled Sydney underworld figures Anthony Pele and Iziah Utai. Following the shooting, Utai posted a video on social media showing himself dancing with a gun and a magazine, a post NSW Police are aware of amid their enquiries.
Detectives from the State Crime Command’s Raptor Squad and Taskforce Falcon attended the scene on Sunday, supported by forensic officers who examined the property, noting numerous bullet holes in the building’s brickwork and windows. Local police maintained a perimeter and canvassed neighbours as part of their investigation.
Residents in the area expressed shock and fear following the shooting. One longtime local recalled mistaking the initial gunfire for fireworks while watching a movie with their children, describing the event as deeply unsettling. Another neighbour noted the frequent sound of fireworks in the area but acknowledged the terror upon learning the noise was actual gunfire.
Family members gathered near the scene after the shooting, pleading with police to cross the crime scene barriers, but access was denied as officers secured the area.
The incident underscores the persistent and brutal nature of Sydney’s underworld violence, which increasingly appears to target innocent family members linked to organised crime groups rather than solely those involved in criminal activity. Authorities continue their efforts to unravel the motives behind this latest attack as the broader gang conflict shows no sign of abating.