Four teenagers charged in connection with underworld attacks in Sydney

Four teenagers have been charged in connection to a string of violent attacks in Greater Western Sydney, including the shooting of former NRL player Matt Utai, who remains fighting for life. Police launched Strike Force Halesowen after a string of firebombings, car fires and shootings across Sydney’s west on Tuesday and Wednesday. Police searched homes across Riverwood, Guildford, Lilyfield, Villawood and Auburn, where they seized three vehicles, 1kg of cocaine, knuckle dusters, electronics and clothing believed to be linked to the incidents. An 18-year-old Riverwood man was arrested and charged with damage property by fire/exp >$15,000, and participate criminal group contribute criminal activity. He was granted conditional bail and is due to appear at Bankstown Local Court on March 10. Police allege the teenager was involved in a firebombing at Guildford West. A 19-year-old Villawood man was charged with damage property by fire/exp >$15000 and participate criminal group contribute criminal relating to the Guildford West firebombing. He was also charged with supply of prohibited drug, large commercial quantity and supply prohibited drug, indictable and commercial quantity – relating to the 1kg of cocaine found at his address. He is expected to face court on Friday. A 19-year-old Guildford man was arrested and charged with accessory after the fact to shoot at with intent to murder, participate criminal group contribute criminal activity and possess prohibited drug. He was denied bail and is due to face court on Friday. Police will allege the 19-year-old “picked up the gunman involved in the shooting of the 44-year-old man after the incident”. A 16-year-old boy from Auburn was also arrested and charged with accessory after the fact to shoot at with intent to murder, supply pistol to person unauthorised to possess it, and participate criminal group contribute criminal activity. He was also denied bail and is due to face a children’ court today. Police will allege he was involved in the handling of the firearm. On Tuesday morning, Mr Utai was shot in the shoulder and leg in front of a home in Greenacre by occupants inside an SUV, which fled the scene shortly after the shooting. At the time, police said the shooting was likely linked to a “conflict between two organised criminal networks”. There is no suggestion that Mr Utai has any association with any criminality or gangs. On Wednesday morning, a St Clair home was peppered with bullets. A woman in her 50s was inside the house at the time of the shooting but was not injured. The home is believed to be linked to a relative of Mr Utai, who was shot several times in what police described as a “brazen” attack on Tuesday morning. A short time later, a car was set alight in Freeman St, Colyton. About 12.30am on Wednesday, a Hunt St home in Guildford West was firebombed. Several shots were fired into the home before a white hatchback fled the scene. “The three occupants of the house – two women and a child – were not injured,” police said. About three hours later, a white hatchback was set on fire in James St, Guildford. Footage obtained by SCN Worldstar appears to show a group aligned with the Alameddine crime family setting the home alight and taunting the rival “Coconut Cartel”. Separate footage appears to show a group firebombing the house and hurling threats at the “Coconut Cartel”. “ … this is the start of destruction, brother,” one man says in the video.