Alleged gangland boss Fadi Haddara has been shot in Melbourne’s inner west.
Multiple police and underworld sources have told the ABC that Haddara was ambushed outside his Altona North home on Marigold Avenue on Sunday evening.
Emergency services were called to the home after reports of a shooting, shortly before 8pm.
Haddara was sitting in a car in the driveway when he came under fire.
He was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Victoria Police said a crime scene has been established and Armed Crime Squad detectives were investigating.
“At this stage the incident is believed to be targeted,” a spokeswoman said.
Haddara’s condition remains unclear.
Haddara is allegedly the head of his namesake family crime clan, who have been long-term rivals of jailed tobacco kingpin Kazem Hamad and his 313 gang, also known as The Commission.
The Haddara clan has long been suspected of being involved in Victoria’s illicit tobacco trade.
Police investigating the tobacco wars last year dropped multiple gun possession and handling stolen goods charges against Fadi Haddara.
Haddara, 48, was born in Lebanon and arrived in Australia when he was six.
He dropped out of school in year 11 and worked in security before becoming a figure in Australian kickboxing, becoming both a fighter and promoter.
In 2009 his brother, Mohammed Haddara, was killed in a drive-by shooting on Fifth Avenue, just hundreds of metres away from Sunday’s incident.