Footage has emerged of the moment an alleged balaclava-wearing gunman struggled with police outside the home of ‘King of the Cross’ John Ibrahim.
Two men were seen acting suspiciously before police were called to George Street at Dover Heights in Sydney‘s east shortly before 9am on Thursday.
The two men fled in a Cupra SUV and were headed towards Bellevue Hill when they were stopped by police.
The 20-year-old driver was arrested while the 24-year-old passenger fled on foot before he was detained in a nearby backyard. A semi-automatic firearm and revolver were found in the car.
Video shows a plain-clothed police officer with a gun holster clearly visible as he struggled with a man wearing all black clothing and a balaclava, who breaks away and runs off down the street.
A second man is shown sitting on the pavement in handcuffs.
According to some reports, police are investigating whether the alleged gunman jumped into action when they saw a neighbour of Mr Ibrahim drive down the street in a car very similar to one he is known to travel in, before realising their mistake.
Detectives were seen speaking to Mr Ibrahim at his house shortly after the arrests. Daily Mail Australia does not suggest Mr Ibrahim is accused of any wrongdoing.
An alleged gunman struggles with an armed police officer outside John Ibrahim’s mansion
The pair of men were caught acting suspiciously near John Ibrahim’s (pictured) house before police were called to the scene on George Street at Dover Heights before 9am on Thursday
Two men aged 20 and 24 were arrested and have appeared in court charged with a number of offences
Police had blocked off roads to Dover Heights as a PolAir helicopter circled the sky above the affluent coastal suburb while they pursued the two men.
A black Range Rover was later observed leaving the area under police escort about 10am.
One neighbour said she witnessed the police pursuit.
‘I thought as long as police were chasing them that’s fine,’ she told The Daily Telegraph.
She added she considered the street quite safe but that any incident got more attention because of the suburb’s well known residents – such as Ibrahim whose flashy career as a Kings Cross nightclub boss has been made into two TV shows.
‘It doesn’t matter where you live these things happen,’ she said.
Police swooped after two men wearing balaclavas in broad daylight were spotted near Ibrahim’s home, with both men arrested following a police operation
Police blocked roads to Dover Heights while a PolAir helicopter is circled above the ritzy eastern Sydney suburb. Cops were later seen speaking to Ibrahim at his home
Both of the arrested men were taken to Waverley Police Station.
They have since appeared in court on Friday charged with a total of 19 offences.
Bankstown plumber Yousif Zrayka was charged with eight offences, including stalking and intimidating Ibrahim’s neighbours, possessing an unauthorised and loaded black revolver and taking part in a police pursuit, reports The Daily Telegraph.
And Campsie man Siaosi Maeakafa Tupoulahi, 24, has been charged with 11 offences, including possessing an unauthorised Glock pistol and ammunition, intimidation, assaulting police and not wearing a seatbelt.
According to court documents the neighbour allegedly mistaken as the target and their passenger are referred to them as ‘Witness A’ and ‘Witness B’ in an effort to protect their identity.
They will front Downing Centre Local Court on Monday for a bail hearing.
