John Ibrahim revealed as alleged target of assassination attempt
Sydney businessman John Ibrahim can be revealed as the target of an alleged assassination attempt involving two gunmen arrested near his home in one of the city’s most affluent neighbourhoods.
The revelation comes after Ibrahim abandoned a secrecy bid in the courts.
Police arrest a man on Old South Head Road, and inset, John Ibrahim. There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by Ibrahim.
Sydney’s east was flung into panic after reports emerged of men in balaclavas, armed with a pistol, during the school drop rush-hour on 26 July.
A driver on George Street, Dover Heights, was allegedly confronted by a gunman about 8.20am.
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Yousif Zrayka, 20, was allegedly driving a stolen rental car while Siaosi Maeakafa Tupoulahi, 24, allegedly leapt from the car brandishing the weapon.
The pair allegedly fled in the Cupra SUV.
Two nearby schools were sent into lockdown as police pursued the Cupra down Old South Head Road.
Zrayka allegedly failed to stop, leading police on a brief pursuit before coming to a stop on the same road, near Bellevue Hill.
Tupoulahi allegedly fled the scene on foot, bounding through the manicured lawns until police found him hiding in a backyard on Banksia Road.
Following the arrests, Ibrahim was pictured speaking to police at his nearby clifftop mansion.
There is no suggestion of wrongdoing on behalf of Ibrahim.
Police in George Street, Dover Heights during the incident on July 26.Credit: Nine News
Instead, the two men were allegedly there to kill him, police claim.
Two guns – a semi-automatic and a revolver – were allegedly found in the car as police hauled the pair into custody.
The 24-year-old Tupoulahi was hit with 11 serious charges including possessing a loaded firearm in a public place, stalking or intimidating with intent of fear of physical harm and assaulting a police officer while on duty, without actual bodily harm.
The 20-year-old Zrayka was charged with eight offences including possessing a loaded firearm in a public place and stalking or intimidating with intent of fear of physical harm.
Each man was later charged with conspiracy to murder.
Their matter was briefly heard in Downing Centre on Thursday.
Ibrahim’s name has been conspicuously absent from the allegations because, in the days following the alleged assassination attempt, his legal team had it suppressed in the courts.
Ibrahim’s high-profile lawyer, Abbas Soukie, appeared in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday saying he would not ask the courts to make the order permanent.
It means Ibrahim can now be named as the alleged target.
Zrayka and Tupoulahi had their matters briefly mentioned in the Downing Centre on Thursday and adjourned. They remain in custody.
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