Four teenagers, including a 16-year-old boy, have been arrested over a spate of shootings and firebombings in Sydney which culminated in a “brazen attack” on former NRL and Kiwis star Matt Utai this week.
The 2004 NRL premiership winner was ambushed and shot outside his home in Greenacre, in southwest Sydney, as he was about to drive to work about 6am (local time) on Tuesday.
He underwent surgery after being left with serious leg wounds from the attack and remained in hospital.
New South Wales Police said an SUV was found shortly after the incident, on fire, and they believed both incidents to be linked.
Around 12.45am on Wednesday, police were called to Menzies Circuit in St Clair after shots were fired at a home. A woman in her 50s was inside but uninjured.
Shortly after, emergency services responded to a car fire on Freeman Street in Colyton. Fire and Rescue NSW extinguished the blaze and the vehicle was seized for forensic analysis.
About 6.05am, officers were called to Hunt Street in Guildford West, where a house and nearby vehicle were found on fire. Both were extinguished and no injuries were reported.
On Thursday, six properties were raided across Sydney, with two 19-year-old men, an 18-year-old man, and a 16-year-old arrested over the shooting of Utai and the firebombing and shooting of homes linked to his son Iziah.
Iziah Utai, believed to be overseas, is a former associate of the once-powerful Alameddine crime family and police this week said they were investigating his links to a group dubbed the “Coconut Cartel”
Three vehicles, 1kg of cocaine, knuckle dusters, electronics and clothing relevant to the investigation were seized during the warrants, NSW Police said.
Police set up a dedicated task force to crack down on the escalating gang violence, furnishing it with more than 100 investigators.
Matt Utai starred in the 2004 NRL grand final, scoring two tries as his Bulldogs knocked off the Sydney Roosters.
His former club said it was deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the shooting.
The New Zealand and Samoa international played 167 NRL games, joining the Wests Tigers in 2011 and spending three seasons with the club.