Brazen Surry Hills underworld killing caught on CCTV

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Acherkouk is seen in separate footage a short time later in the middle of Cleveland Street, at the intersection with Crown and Baptist streets, collapsing as members of the public come to his aid.

A man in a wheelchair reaches out to Acherkouk as he sinks to his knees, and another man rips off his own shirt, apparently to help stem the bleeding.

The victim had dined with four or five friends at the Erciyes Turkish restaurant next to the BP station before the shooting, restaurant staff confirmed. Police have taken the restaurant’s CCTV footage.

Police have labelled the fatal shooting a “reckless” and “targeted” attack linked to the underworld.

Superintendent Andrew Garner said police were dedicating significant resources to the search for those involved.

“This was an outrageous incident that demonstrated a high level of reckless indifference to the public around that area,” Garner said outside Mascot police station on Saturday.

“Police are working very hard to identify and arrest those involved … we’re coming for you.”

A suspected getaway car was later found set on fire next to a block of flats in Kensington Road, Kensington.

Kensington Road resident Craig Finn said he went to his apartment’s balcony after hearing voices coming from the garage about 8pm.

“It all just went up in flames and then a car drove off,” he said, adding that he called emergency services and residents were quickly evacuated.

“It sounded like it was going to blow, but luckily it didn’t … the wind was going in the other direction and the fire didn’t get into the building.”

Police urged anyone with information about the shooting to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.