Confrontational CCTV has captured the moment a criminal identity was gunned down on a busy Sydney street.
Two robed gunmen opened fire on Nidal Acherkouk at a BP gas station in the inner Sydney suburb of Surry Hills just before 8pm on Friday.
A shocking vision shows two men dressed in dark ponchos sprinting to the side of Acherkouk’s car before firing at least four shots.
30-year-old Acherkouk, who police said on Saturday had ties to underworld organizations, somehow managed to get to the passenger seat and get out of the car despite being hit on the shoulder .
The gunmen gave chase, firing more shots as members of the public took cover behind cars and in shops and restaurants.
Footage filmed by a passerby showed Acherkouk stumbling into the center road outside a pharmacy warehouse as a man repeatedly shouted: “Get a bloody ambulance!”
A shirtless man tried to hold Acherkouk up as a large red blood stain spread across his white T-shirt, while a man in a wheelchair zoomed over to help.
Other members of the public ran to him and tried to give him first aid, but he could not be saved.
Two robed gunmen opened fire on Nidal Acherkouk at a BP gas station in the inner Sydney suburb of Surry Hills just before 8pm on Friday.
Shocking vision shows two men dressed in dark ponchos sprinting to the side of Acherkouk’s car before firing at least four shots (pictured)
Footage filmed by a passerby showed Acherkouk stumbling into the center road outside a pharmacy warehouse as a man repeatedly shouted: “Get a bloody ambulance!”
The two gunmen remain at large after setting fire to their getaway Porsche in nearby Kensington.
NSW Police said on Saturday that Acherkouk had links to underworld organizations in Sydney and was known to police at the time of his death.
South Sydney Police District Chief Inspector Andrew Garner said at a press conference on Saturday that the attack was “targeted”.
“This is an outrageous incident that showed a high degree of reckless indifference towards the public who were in and around the area at the time,” he said.
NSW Police said on Saturday that Acherkouk (pictured) had links to underworld organizations in Sydney and was known to police at the time of his death.
Supt Garner said Acherkouk suffered a gunshot wound to his upper body but could not confirm how many shots had been fired.
“He was alone in his car at the gas station,” he said.
“He then exited the vehicle and proceeded on foot along Cleveland Street, where he succumbed to his injuries.”
Supt Garner said the incident was ‘outrageous’ and showed a lack of respect for public safety in a busy and congested part of the city.
“We will work very hard to identify, arrest and hold those involved accountable,” Supt Garner said.
Images from the scene showed bloodstains on the road near the gas station.
Images from the scene showed bloodstains (pictured) on the road near the gas station
The gunman remains on the run after police were called to Baptist Street in Surry Hills after locals heard gunshots just before 8pm on Friday (pictured is Friday’s scene)
Earlier, a blood-soaked white sheet was seen covering Acherkouk’s body as paramedics desperately tried to revive him.
A Porsche, believed to be the getaway car, was found on fire on Kensington Road in Kensington about an hour after the shooting.
Supt Garner said police were investigating the movements of the burned vehicle.
NSW Police said in a statement on Friday evening that the shooting is believed to be linked to the burnt-out car.
Earlier, a blood-soaked white sheet was seen covering the man’s body as paramedics desperately tried to revive him (pictured)
Swarms of emergency workers, including police and at least five emergency vehicles, were on the scene.
Officers secured the intersection of Cleveland and Bourke Streets before a police operation began.
Several people, who were in a store, were forced to take cover when they heard gunshots.
A local resident dining nearby told Daily Mail Australia she heard three gunshots go off in the direction of the BP.
Witnesses reported seeing the gunman jump out of a car before the shooting, while another witness said they saw a “bloodied” man after the incident.
Another man told me Daily Telegraph he heard ‘bang after bang’ and said ‘everyone panicked’ as chaos ensued.
‘People are running and screaming everywhere. It was surreal. Terrifying,” he said.
Some businesses were forced to close their doors for the night, while local supermarket Harris Farm reportedly urged shoppers to leave.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing and anyone with information about the incident has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers.