Organised crime cops probe Sydney shooting

The brother of a teenage girl who was shot in the back in Sydney's west is suspected of being a low ranking member of the Brothers 4 Life gang.

A police car in Sydney
The Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad has taken over the investigation of the shooting of a 13-year-old girl in a gang-related attack.

As her family's links to the Brothers 4 Life gang emerge, police say the squad has formed Strike Force Sitella after linking the incident to a number of other current inquiries.

Police Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn on Wednesday described Monday's incident as a "terrible thing to have happened".

She said police were determined to stop Sydney's gun violence.

"We rely on people telling us what is going on and giving us that information so we can take things further," she said.

"So it is a good thing that people are co-operating and talking with us."

The girl remains in Westmead Hospital in a stable condition after being shot in the back when two gunmen turned up to the Blacktown house, reportedly looking to settle a score with her brother.

After having the door slammed in their faces, the men allegedly opened fire, hitting the girl in the back.

The girl's brother is suspected of being a low-ranking member of the Brothers 4 Life gang, media reports say.

After first refusing to help police, the family later said they would talk to officers.

No arrests have yet been made.

The MEOCS investigates Middle Eastern organised crime groups including those who have a propensity for violence.

Last week, NSW police moved to cancel number plates that reportedly mock the squad.

Following the shooting of a suspected Brothers 4 Life gang member in October, it was reported two cars with "MEOC" variations on their plates were at the crime scene.

NSW Police said it had applied to Roads and Maritime Services to have the plates deemed unsuitable.


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Source: AAP


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