Man arrested over alleged failed murder plot to kill underworld figure Ibrahem Hamze

A senior member of the Hamzy crime family can “thank his lucky stars” he’s still alive after highway patrol officers unwittingly foiled a plot to kill him, police allege.

Ibrahem Hamze, the younger brother of slain gangster Bilal Hamze, is believed to have been the target of two masked gunmen who drove to a street in North Sydney last month.

The men were allegedly forced to flee the scene, however, after patrolling police identified the Mercedes in which they were travelling as being stolen and displaying cloned number plates.

Police will allege the balaclava-clad men drove to Miller St, Cammeray where they assaulted and carjacked a 76-year-old man, stealing his Toyota Camry and making good their escape.

Police allege that intelligence suggests Mr Hamze, the cousin of Brothers for Life leader Bassam Hamzy, is a marked man in Sydney’s bloody underworld feud between two rival criminal networks.

Detective Superintendent Grant Taylor told reporters on Friday that police believe Hamze can “thank his lucky stars he’s alive”.

His comments came a few hours after tactical police stormed a home in Granville and arrested Samuel John Rokomaqisa, 31.

Police will allege he was in the stolen Mercedes on the day of the failed hit on August 14, 2021.

Mr Rokomaqisa was taken to Granville police station where he was later charged with conspire and agree to murder and other offences including being armed with intent to commit an indictable offence, police pursuit and armed robbery in company.

He has been refused bail to appear before Parramatta Local Court on Friday afternoon.

Strike Force Gillwinga detectives, the group established to investigate the incident, are still looking for the other individual allegedly involved.

Superintendent Taylor said police believed the two men drove to Sydney’s north shore “with the sole intention of shooting dead a man who they believe is a rival in territorial disputes in southwest Sydney”.

The Criminal Groups Squad commander said police would allege the incident was set to be another chapter in the “tit for tat” of violent reprisals that have marred Sydney over the last 12 months.

He would not confirm whether Mr Rokamaqisa was allegedly part of the Hamzys’ rival network, the Alameddines, but said police would allege he was part of a criminal group.

“We will allege that person was one of the two individuals in that Mercedes Benz armed with a handgun and disguised,” Superintendent Taylor said.

He said the Mercedes had been reported stolen in November last year and it had been used as a vehicle of choice in the gangland war.

“We will allege … that this is one of the motor vehicles that were used by criminal syndicates to undertake violent criminal acts throughout Sydney,” he said.

Superintendent Taylor said Mr Hamze had been in contact with police and the underworld figure’s safety remained a serious concern.

“That individual who we will allege was in that street on the day in North Sydney is an at-risk individual,” he said, “and will continue to be at risk going into the future.”

Investigations are ongoing.