A string of bikie murders may lead to an outbreak of underworld revenge killings as police prepare for an increase in gang violence.
New South Wales Police Assistant Commissioner Mal Lanyon said they were focusing on stopping retaliation for recent bikie deaths.
The latest involved was former Comanchero kingpin Mahmoud ‘Mick’ Hawi, 37, who was shot by a masked gunman as he sat alone in his Mercedes SUV after a workout at Fitness First in Rockdale, Sydney on Thursday.
‘One of the things that we will focus on… is ensuring we put sufficient resources out there to prevent any retribution that may occur as a result of his shooting,’ Assistant Commissioner Lanyon told the Daily Telegraph.
A string of bikie murders may lead to an outbreak of underworld revenge killings as police prepare for an increase in gang violence. Pictured is Mick Hawi, who was killed on Thursday
Detective Superintendent Debbie Wallace, head of the NSW Gangs Squad, said bikies did not have loyalties.
‘It may seem romantic to join some sort of brotherhood but if you want to leave it comes at a significant cost – personal, financial and physical,’ she said.
Mick Hawi – shot outside a gym in his Mercedes, February 2018
Hawi’s assassination came despite the Camanchero gang head keeping a low public profile.
Days earlier he had allegedly arranged to meet a so-called peacemaker because he knew a rival had put a bounty on his head – but the meeting never happened.
Police are probing six theories as to why Hawi was killed, with a police source saying ‘the man had more enemies than I’ve had hot dinners’.
Ricky Ciano – decomposing body found in BMW, February 2017
Former Rebels motorcycle club enforcer Ricky Ciano’s decomposing body was found in the back of his $130,000 BMW in February 2017 in the NSW Central Tablelands.
Ciano, 35, left the bikie gang in 2015 and was told he must remove any tattoos linking him to the Rebels
Former Rebels motorcycle club enforcer Ricky Ciano’s decomposing body was found in the back of his $130,000 BMW in February 2017 in the NSW Central Tablelands (pictured with wife Rachel)
Ciano, 35, left the bikie gang in 2015 and was told he must remove any tattoos linking him to the Rebels.
Police are still investigating his death.
Michael Davey – killed due to gunshot wounds, March 2016
Michael Davey, 30, died from gunshot wounds in western Sydney in March 2016.
The heavily-tattooed Rebels bikie was known as the ‘Prince of Penrith’ and nicknamed ‘Ruthless’.
Michael Davey, 30, died from gunshot wounds in western Sydney in March 2016
The heavily-tattooed Rebels bikie was known as the ‘Prince of Penrith’ and nicknamed ‘Ruthless’ (pictured with former girlfriend Sarah Gerrard)
Police were investigating if his death was caused by his own gang, as he reportedly had been looking to get out of the bikie fraternity.
Kemel Barakat – shot in his bed, March 2017
Former Commanchero bikie Kemel ‘Blackie’ Barakat, 29, was shot dead in his bed in March 2017 by a gunman who crept into his apartment in Mortlake, in Sydney’s south, in the early hours of the morning.
Former Commanchero bikie Kemel ‘Blackie’ Barakat, 29, was shot dead in his bed in March by a gunman who crept into his apartment in Mortlake, in Sydney’s south, in the early hours of the morning
Barakat was shot a ‘large number of times’, and his death had been linked to the Hells Angels
His wife Amanda found out her partner had been shot dead while she was holidaying in Thailand.
Barakat was shot a ‘large number of times’, and his death had been linked to the Hells Angels.
His assailant escaped and a burnt-out Mercedes was found in Belmore in the hours shortly after the execution-style slaying.
Adrian Buxton – gunned down outside his home, May 2016
Father-of-one Adrian Buxton was gunned down outside his home while taking out the bins in western Sydney in May 2016.
Father-of-one Adrian Buxton was gunned down outside his home while taking out the bins in western Sydney in May 2016
His wife and young son were inside the home at the time of the shooting.
Buxton was understood to be a member of the Nomads Outlaw Motorcycle Club.
Mark Easton – body found full of bullets dumped in bush – June 2016
The body of Rebels bikie member Mark Easter, 37, was dumped in remote bush off the Pacific Highway near Cowan, north of Sydney in June 2016.
Council workers found his body full of bullets, and with no effort made to hide it.
The body of Rebels bikie member Mark Easter, 37, was dumped in remote bush off the Pacific Highway (right is partner Biancha Simpson)