Sydney, February 20 – Four teenagers have been arrested and charged in connection with a series of shootings and arson attacks across western Sydney, linked to an organized crime conflict.
The New South Wales (NSW) police force said on Friday that the four men, aged 16, 18, and two 19, were arrested by officers executing search warrants at six properties in western Sydney on Thursday, according to Xinhua news agency.
This follows the NSW Police Force establishing a strike force on Wednesday to investigate three shooting and arson attacks in western Sydney on Tuesday and Wednesday, which investigators believe were linked to an organized crime conflict and targeted the same family.
A 44-year-old man was hospitalized with serious injuries after he was shot multiple times in the first attack on Tuesday morning, but no one else was injured in the subsequent incidents.
Officers executing the warrants on Thursday seized 1 kg of cocaine, three vehicles, electronic devices, and clothing relevant to their investigation.
The 16-year-old boy and one of the 19-year-old men were charged with offenses related to the shooting of the 44-year-old.
It is alleged in court that the 19-year-old picked up the gunman involved in the shooting after the attack, and that the 16-year-old was involved in supplying the firearm.
The other 19-year-old and the 18-year-old were both charged with arson for setting fire to a property in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
The second 19-year-old was also charged with drug trafficking offenses related to the seized cocaine.
Police said that the strike force was continuing to investigate the incidents.
