A gangland figure shot dead in a hail of bullets in an alleged ambush had a huge price on his head.
Mahmoud Karam, 60, was allegedly killed during a shootout in which up to 15 shots were fired.
Detectives will investigate whether Karam was lured to the residential street Campbellfield, in Melbourne’s north, to be ambushed on Friday night.
Security cameras at a nearby home captured the gunshots, and a Porsche was captured speeding away before a burnt-out car was found dumped on Northbourne Rd around 11pm.
A 20-year-old Yarraville man and a 22-year-old Westmeadows man remained under police guard in hospital on Monday.
They were arrested after being taken to a hospital following the attack with injuries suspected to have occurred during the shooting or subsequent car fire.
It is understood that Karam had been sentenced to death for a $3 million debt owed to him by a feared underworld figure, the team of Media outside the law reported.
While Daily Mail Australia has chosen not to name the man, it is suspected that he awarded Mr Karam a huge contract before fleeing the country himself.
‘This murder is not just another typical mafia hit. “It is woven with threads of long-standing debt, revenge and calculated retribution,” he reported.
Mahmoud Karam, 60, had apparently gone to war with a rival who owed him a lot of money.
“It was a dispute over a significant sum of money.”
Karam is understood to be suspected of pursuing money owed to him with extreme prejudice, attacking his rival’s businesses and family.
The debt was allegedly wasted on shopping trips to Dubai, where the alleged mastermind of Karam’s murder fled to safety just days ago.
“It is now clear that Karam’s actions were motivated by desperation, perhaps a final warning to (his rival),” Media outside the law reported.
“Underworld sources have revealed today that he paid (a hitman) $500,000 to organize Karam’s murder…two days before the murder, he fled to Dubai ensuring that he was out of the reach of both law enforcement and anyone else.” possible retaliation by Karam’s family.”
It was further suggested that Karam may have been playing an even more dangerous game in Melbourne’s volatile underworld.
“Underworld sources have confirmed that Karam was playing both sides of the war by not only giving private information to one side, but also helping (another man) find the individuals he was looking for,” Outlaw Media reported.
“That was never going to end well.”
Police investigate scene in Campbellfield where shooting took place
Up to 15 shots were fired in the shooting in Campbellfield on Friday night.
The alleged mastermind behind the attack on the gangster is believed to have fled to Dubai (pictured)
It is understood Karam, of Craigieburn, knew his life was threatened and had armed himself with a gun.
Homicide detectives found what appeared to be a sawed-off shotgun, possibly belonging to Karam, under a car outside the Gentles Avenue home where the gunmen had ambushed him around 10:10 p.m.
Victoria Police’s VIPER task force, which monitors organized crime in Victoria, questioned nearby residents at the weekend.
Victoria Police Acting Superintendent Kelly Walker said on Saturday that detectives would remain open-minded about the motives behind Karam’s murder.
“The Homicide Squad will canvass all available avenues, there will be CCTV in the area, we have the vehicles and obviously the witnesses,” Ms Walker said.
“We want to provide assurance that we believe (was) targeted and provide the community assurance that we are exhausting all avenues of investigation.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.