Too tough for masks! Frightening moment men linked to notorious underworld gang brawl with more than a dozen cops at a Coles petrol station after refusing to wear masks – before a ute-load of gangsters arrive
- Brawl erupts between five men linked to the Alameddine network and police
- Officers allegedly approached a pair of men at a petrol station in Sydney’s west
- Two men were allegedly seen not wearing face masks at a Coles petrol station
- Three other associates later arrived in a ute and allegedly threatened the officers
- Footage has emerged of the violent confrontation with police on Friday
A violent altercation has broken out between police and a group of men linked to a notorious underworld gang at a service station over an alleged mask breach.
Five men linked to the Alameddine network were charged with allegedly threatening and assaulting officers outside a Coles petrol station in Western Sydney on Friday.
NSW Police Raptor squad initially approached two men at a service station on Guildford road on Friday after reports the pair were seen not wearing face masks.
Five men linked to the Alameddine network were arrested at a petrol station in Sydney’s west after an alleged struggle broke out between police (pictured)
The men allegedly became aggressive, with one member of the group allegedly punching an officer before a struggle broke out.
Both men were arrested by police before three other associates arrived in a ute and allegedly began making threats towards the officers.
Footage of the violent confrontation shows more than a dozen police arrive for backup to arrest the three men.
Dozens of officers were called for backup after the associates allegedly became aggressive towards police
At one point an officer appears to throw a punch into the body of one of the men amid the struggle.
Police also located a knife during a search of the vehicle.
Three men aged 21, 19 and 22 were charged with assault, resisting arrest, harassment and failure to comply with carrying a face covering.
Police approached the two men at a petrol station on Guildford Road after reports the men were allegedly not wearing masks
They were refused bail and are due to appear in Parramatta Local Court on Saturday.
A 20-year-old man was also charged with hindering police and failing to comply with Covid-19 directions.
The man was granted bail and will appear in Burwood Local Court on Thursday.
An additional 20-year-old man is now under police guard in Westmead Hospital where he is expected to be charged after his release.
NSW residents are still under tough Covid-19 restrictions as the state recorded 1,007 new infections and 11 deaths on Saturday.
Sydneysiders living in local government areas where stay-at-home orders apply are required to wear and carry a mask with them whenever they leave home.
Penalties for not wearing a face mask across the state will increase from $200 to $500.
Raptor Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Jason Weinstein made no apologies for police efforts in response to the violent confrontation and said the men can expect to be held accountable.
‘I make no apology for the actions of the police who acted within the bounds of the law,’ he said.
‘If you associate, facilitate or participate in a criminal group you should expect police to be watching you – ensuring every move you make in the public domain is acceptable and consistent with everyone else in the community.’
Those areas are Canterbury-Bankstown, Fairfield, Liverpool, Blacktown, Cumberland, Parramatta, Campbelltown and Georges River.
The Alameddines have quickly become a prominent name in the city’s west, with some of the crew waging war against police and disrupting law-abiding society.
Six male members of the Alameddine crew are already in jail or before the courts, facing charges related to guns, drugs, violence and organised crime.
They and their crew have established a stronghold around Merrylands – an area criminals have fought for control for years.
Over recent years Strike Force Raptor squad has launched investigations and high-impact policing operations to prevent and disrupt conflicts against bikies and the middle-eastern crime squads.