NSW: Rees blames bikie wars for drive-by shootings

AAP General News (Australia)
12-18-2008
NSW: Rees blames bikie wars for drive-by shootings

SYDNEY, Dec 18 AAP - NSW Premier Nathan Rees has blamed bikie gangs for a spate of
drive-by shootings in Sydney's west, the latest injuring a sleeping toddler.

The three-year-old boy was grazed, apparently by a ricocheting bullet. It was one of
a number of bullets fired at a Blacktown home.

Witnesses told police a white Commodore carrying three men fired the shots at the Vardys
Road home about 12.30am (AEDT) on Thursday.

The boy, who was asleep in his bed, received a minor abrasion and was treated by ambulance
staff at the scene, police said.

An eight-year-old boy, a man and a woman were also home at the time but were not injured.

Mr Rees said he was disgusted by the attack, saying outlaw motorcycle gangs were responsible
for a string of recent drive-by shootings.

"I'm absolutely sick to death of this," he told reporters.

"I won't say too much because the matter is currently being investigated by the police,
but out in western Sydney there's been a bit of activity between a couple of different
bikie gangs.

"That's what's underpinning it."

Quakers Hill Local Area Commander, Superintendent Mark Cooper, said the shooting may
have been isolated but police were not ruling out links to bikie gangs.

"We're not eliminating anything at the moment," he told reporters.

"We're actually looking at all inquiries ... how many shots, how many firearms were
used, their vehicle, we're looking at the area itself, we're looking at everything."

Supt Cooper said there was nothing to suggest the child was deliberately targeted,
saying he was most likely injured due to a ricochet.

"(The) abrasion ... is superficial, but it was unfortunate that a baby has been injured,"

he said.

He said many shots were fired and the three men seen by witnesses were believed to
have gotten out of the car ahead of the shooting.

He would not comment on whether the family was previously known to police or where they were now.

The home, which is set back from the road, was cordoned off along with the road for
several hours while police investigated.

AAP evt/tnf/de

KEYWORD: SHOOTING WRAP

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