The brother of a prominent Comanchero biker who was shot and killed outside a gym and commonly seen as collateral damage has been identified as a police source.
On May 10, Omar Zahed, 39, and his notorious brother Tarek, 41, were both shot as they exited the Bodyfit Gym in Auburn, western Sydney. At least 20 shots were fired at them.
While his elder brother miraculously survived several gunshot wounds, including one in his eye, Omar bled out at the scene and died.
Long believed to have been unintentionally caught up in the strike on the underworld, Omar’s assistance with investigators has just come to light.
On Tuesday, the NSW Supreme Court removed a suppression order related to a ruling in which police called the 39-year-old a source who was “increasingly dependable.”
The petition, which was on an appeal to Omar’s convictions for drug and gun offenses, claimed that he had given police a tip that led them to find explosives and weapons.
The statement added, “Suffice it to say that the applicant contacted police and freely offered information suggesting a desire to help on an ongoing basis.”
In contacts with additional people that were arranged by the applicant, more illegal firearms and explosives were found.
Semi-automatic rifles, military assault rifles, and a bayonet-equipped rifle are among the weapons confiscated.
Without Omar, “police may not have ever retrieved these deadly goods,” according to the authorities.
They see the applicant as a source who is more and more trustworthy. According to them, “the source has not ceased supporting police over this time,” the paper claimed.
The new information about his brother raises questions about whether Omar was the intended victim of the assault. Initially, authorities believed Tarek was the intended victim because of his penchant for designer apparel, earning him the nickname “Balenciaga bikie.”
After releasing the information, Omar was given a new term in November 2018 of 10 years in prison; nevertheless, he was freed on parole in September 2020.
Youssef Assoum was fatally shot and stabbed in Bankstown in December 2014, and Tarek was arrested earlier this month on murder charges.
Burnt-out Audis were discovered at each site within minutes of the shooting, which a police source had previously said was the “largest of the year” in the criminal world.
The brothers were given a week’s notice by the police that their lives were in danger, but they disregarded their advice.