Tag Archives: oceania

headline

Extradited Ibrahem Hamze hit with new charges

A senior member of the Hamze family has been hit with multiple charges, including his alleged role over a shooting at a gym in Sydney's west, where a toddler narrowly missed being shot.

Among the raft of charges following his arrest on Monday, Ibrahem Hamze was also charged over his alleged role in the kidnapping of a Sydney man last year.

Mr Hamze was extradited yesterday afternoon from the Gold Coast to Sydney, flown on a police Cessna plane from Coolangatta to Bankstown Airport.

READ MORE: How young Australians are spending January 26

Sydney underworld figure Ibrahem Hamze has been extradited to New South Wales.

READ MORE: Captain Cook monument defaced on Australia Day

Police had been investigating if a November shooting at a World Gym in Prospect was linked to an ongoing feud between the Hamzy and Alameddine families.

Mr Hamze is the fourth person to be arrested for the shooting, where bullets were sprayed into a childcare centre connected to the gym.

Photos from the childcare centre showed numerous bullet holes in the wall.

One man, aged in his 30s, was shot in the leg.

On Mr Hamze's detention in Sydney, he was charged with two counts of solicit, encourage, persuade etc to murder, four counts of shoot at with intent to murder, fire firearm in public place, acquire pistol-subject to firearms prohibition order, three counts of supply prohibited firearm to unauthorised person, three counts of acquire firearm-subject prohibition order, and acquire ammunition subject to prohibition order.

READ MORE: What the weather will be like in your capital city on Australia Day

Ibrahem Hamze was escorted from Queensland to New South Wales by the Aviation Command on Tuesday afternoon.

READ MORE: Omicron outbreak leaves question mark over Australia Day gatherings

He was also charged with two counts of knowingly direct activities of criminal group, two counts of large commercial drug supply, contravene serious crime prevention order.

Detectives also charged Mr Hamze with take/detain in company with intent to get advantage occasion actual bodily harm.

Police will allege Mr Hamze was involved in kidnapping, detaining, and assaulting a 24-year-old man last September.

Yesterday, police also arrested brothers Haissam and Tarek Hamzy for their alleged role in the kidnapping — in which the alleged victim was bundled into a van at Merrylands, stabbed, and dumped at Birrong in September.

All up, seven men are behind bars.

Today, all three relatives were refused bail at Parramatta and are tonight in custody.

The Hamzy family has been caught up in a bloody feud with the Alameddine clan.

Mr Hamze's cousin, Ghassan Amoun, was gunned down outside a beauty parlour earlier this month.

His brother Bilal was shot dead in the city in June last year, while another relative, Salim Hamze, and his father were killed in October.

headline

WA records 24 new COVID-19 cases, including one mystery infection

Western Australia has recorded 24 new COVID-19 infections overnight, as the Bunbury cluster continues to grow.

The day's caseload is an increase on yesterday's 15, with nine new infections attributed to the expanding Bunbury cluster.

WA Premier Mark McGowan said the remaining cases are all located in Perth, and of those, one has an unknown origin.

IN PICTURES: How Australians are spending Australia day around the country

Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan.

Mr McGowan said the new infections highlighted the need for Western Australians to take the virus seriously, with further outbreaks inevitable.

"Please go and get tested, especially if you have been at an exposure sight," Mr McGowan said.

READ MORE: Queensland lotto winner unaware of riches after missed call

"Please, take notes.

"Lots of people dying in the eastern states.

"The best way to protect yourself and your family is to go in and get tested if you're unwell and isolate if you've been told to do so."

A total of 96.9 per cent of WA residents have received a first dose of a vaccine, while official figures state 89.9 per cent are fully vaccinated.

Mr McGowan said, however, he was "very confident" the state had actually reached 90 per cent by the time of his press conference.

READ MORE: Captain Cook statue in Melbourne vandalised on Australia Day

"We're confident we're at 90 per cent double dose over 12 across Western Australia, which is a terrific achievement," he said.

There are 99 close or casual contacts linked to the current outbreak, 73 of whom have tested negative.

All are now in isolation.

As caseloads grow by the day, attention has been refocussed on the booster shot rollout, with just 30 per cent of eligible residents having received a third jab.

headline

Woman dies after boat capsizes during Australia Day celebrations

A woman has died after a boat capsized in Sydney's west during Australia Day celebrations.

Emergency services were called to the Penrith Weir on the Nepean River just after 12.30pm today.

Two men and two teenagers were rescued from the water and taken to Nepean Hospital for observation and treatment of minor injuries, NSW Police said.

READ MORE: Captain Cook statue in Melbourne vandalised on Australia Day

A boat has reportedly overturned in Sydney's west.

An unconscious woman was pulled from the water and treated by paramedics, however she died a short time later.

She is yet to be formally identified but is believed to have been aged 33.

"This is a tragic ending for this family on what should have been a fun day out on the water this Australia Day," NSW Ambulance Acting Superintendent Greg Marshall said.

"It was a complex rescue operation with several people in the water when paramedics arrived on scene. We worked closely with Police, Fire and Rescue and the SES to get them out as quickly and safely as possible.

"This is a reminder to everyone out on the water this summer on how quickly things can turn. Paramedics are urging people to take care."

At least 10 ambulances and a Toll Rescue helicopter attended the scene.

headline

'Iconic' Australian python visits young family on Australia Day

A young Sydney family has woken on Australia Day to find an "iconic Australian snake" on their back deck.

2GB radio host Ray Hadley has told how his producer's wife discovered a very large diamond python on the family's back deck at their home in north-western Sydney just before 8am.

READ MORE: 'Invasion Day' protests kick-off as thousands march in Sydney

Australian Snake Catchers' Sean Cade had to remove the two-metre-long snake from the path of the mother and her two young children.

Mr Cade told 2GB it was a special sighting for Australia Day.

READ MORE: Sydney's iconic ferries race during annual Australia Day 'Ferrython'

"It's very poignant on Australia Day to have such an iconic Australian snake on somebody's back deck," he said.

In an even rarer sight, the python had a large bulge in its belly, which Mr Cade said was more than likely the possum that had been living by the family home.