By Sarah Keoghan and Laura Banks
Two men are on the run from police after shooting a former bikie gang member on Sydney’s lower north shore on Wednesday afternoon.
A senior NSW Police source, who cannot be named as they are not authorised to speak publicly, confirmed the victim is 33-year-old Abdul Baghdadi.
Police at the scene of the daylight shooting on Upper Pitt St in Kirribilli.Credit: Wolter Peeters
Baghdadi was injured in the daylight shooting on Upper Pitt Street in Kirribilli which has been closed off by police. A manhunt is under way for two men who witnesses say fled the scene after firing several shots.
Baghdadi is understood to have been paroled earlier this year, after pleading guilty to a series of violent carjackings and robberies where he fired a handgun to intimidate his victims, according to court documents.
The one-time bikie remains on parole, with police sources telling the Herald he is not co-operating with their investigation.
The incident took place several hundred metres from both the Governor-General’s residence Admiralty House and the prime minister’s residence Kirribilli House, and close to the school St Aloysius’ College.
At the scene, Baghdadi declined medical assistance.
Police are investigating whether a car fire in Neutral Bay, just north of Kirribilli, is connected to the shooting after two men fled the shooting scene.
Grace Fisher, 18, lives nearby and was in the shower when she heard about six to seven gunshots outside about 4pm.
A suspected getaway car was found burnt out in Neutral Bay. Credit: Nine News
She said she saw a white 4WD speed away down nearby McBurney Lane. She also saw two men run away from the area.
“I only heard like one guy scream out, so I didn’t think anyone was injured. I thought maybe the guys in the car had just shot out to the guys on the street,” she said.
Police at Upper Pitt Street in Kirribilli on Wednesday afternoon.Credit: Wolter Peeters
Fisher said the situation was “scary” given there are two schools in the area, with the shooting occurring shortly after home time.
Nerilyn Vetter, 31, lives on the street and was working from home when she heard multiple gunshots.
She said there were cleaners packing up their car in the street who “frantically” ran down the street upon hearing the gunshots.
Multiple shots shattered the back windscreen of a white hatchback. Credit: Nine News
“I heard a neighbour ask what was going on, and I heard them say, ‘there’s a man with a gun run away’,” she said.
“At that point I was like, I’m going to step away from the windows just in case.”
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