Sydney shooting linked to Syrian politics

6 Feb 2012, 7:39 am   -   Source: AAP
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The attack is said to be linked to Mr Ibrahim's views on the bloody crackdown in Syria. (AAP)

The attack is said to be linked to Mr Ibrahim's views on the bloody crackdown in Syria. (AAP)

A Sydney man said to have been shot because of his support for the Syrian regime may be charged if he is found to have lied to police.

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A young father who was shot three times in the leg in Sydney's latest gun violence is refusing to assist police, even though he may never walk again.

Ali Ibrahim, 29, was shot three times in the leg outside his home on Christian Rd, Punchbowl, in an attack said to be linked to his views on the bloody crackdown in Syria.

Police say he answered a knock at the door about 12.45am (AEDT) on Monday and spoke to at least one man before he was shot and his attackers fled.

His wife and young son and daughter were inside at the time.

He was rushed to hospital and underwent surgery, but there are fears he may be permanently disabled.

It was the 20th shooting in Sydney since January 1.

Assistant Commissioner Frank Mennilli said Mr Ibrahim could be charged if he was found to have lied to police.

"Once again, we're faced with a victim of a serious crime who says that he does not know who the person is and he has no information that can really assist investigators," Mr Mennilli told reporters.

"But yet we have an individual that answers a knock at the door ... and walks out and opens the door and speaks to this individual."

Jamal Daoud from the Social Justice Network refugee support group, who spoke to the family, said Mr Ibrahim had been shot over a heated Facebook debate over his support for the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria.

"The government and security authorities have obligations to crack down on these extremists who think that they can rule Australian streets " Mr Daoud said.

Mr Ibrahim's father had not slept since the shooting and was only able to say to AAP that his son would be "alright".

Sydney's west saw another drive-by shooting over the weekend when a house was fired on in Melville St, St Clair, about 1.20am (AEDT) on Sunday.

Forensic specialists found bullet holes in the facade of the house, but a person living there refused to assist police.

Many witnesses to the recent spate of shootings across western Sydney have refused to cooperate with police, including one man who was shot in the back and another who was shot twice in the leg.

NSW Opposition Leader John Robertson has called for more police, greater policing powers and cash rewards for information leading to convictions.

Detectives from the Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad charged a man on Monday over a drive-by shooting at Ermington in Sydney's northwest on January 2, in which four shots were allegedly fired at a parked car.

Detective Chief Superintendent Mal Lanyon of State Crime Command told reporters police would allege the shooting was related to a drug debt.

The suspect, 24, who was already in custody on drug and firearms offences, now faces additional charges including causing danger with a firearm and possessing a prohibited weapon.

The man will remain in custody and is due to appear in Parramatta Local Court on March 15.

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