Marrickville saloon shooting: Bikie brothers shot in failed assassination attempt are identified

The two men shot in a botched murder at a barbershop are reported to be brothers with ties to motorcycle gangs and organized crime figures.

William, 33, and Eric Siale, 20, were shot by a masked gunman at Adel’s beauty salon on Marrickville Road in Sydney’s inner west shortly before 2pm on Friday.

The brothers, of Pacific Islander descent, were struck, one in the chest and the other in the lower back. Both men are recovering at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

The couple were rushed to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

Police sources told the daily telegraph that William, aka ‘Tonga’, was a fully repaired member of the Bandidos bikie gang and had been a close associate of Comanchero bikie Fares Abounader before his death in 2020.

Meanwhile, Eric was friends with several murdered members of the Hamzy clan.

There is no suggestion that either brother was involved in organized crime.

Witnesses previously said they saw one of the men dive in front of a bullet to protect his brother.

New South Wales Police said on Friday they are investigating links between the shooting and the murder of cocaine kingpin Alen Moradian in Bondi Junction.

However, underworld sources have dismissed that idea.

A witness claimed the shooter was carrying two handguns when he opened fire on the two men inside the saloon. One of the men reportedly dove in front of the other during the carnage.

Police sources said the victims have ties to the Bandidos motorcycle gang and were known to them.

‘Tonga’ has been around for a long time, he was a good partner to Fares (Abounader)’, a source told the Telegraph.

‘(Eric) was also close to all the dead Hamzys from the past few years. However, who knows why they have been shot at, it could just be isolated.

“People are saying that this may be an opportunity for the Bandits to make it look like retaliation for Moradian, because they weren’t involved in that.

“We have seen shots from time to time, to make the police believe that they are involved in a hit.”

Shocking footage from the scene shows a shirtless man lying on the ground as a police officer gives him first aid.

Another officer was also seen trying to calm down a second man in the lounge.

Former NSW police officer Peter Moroney said the criminals tried to “rough up” one or two of the witnesses who were filming the shocking incident.

A silver Kia Stinger was set on fire in nearby Sydenham after the shooting on Friday afternoon. Police also reportedly found a burnt-out Mitsubishi Triton

NSW Police Superintendent Despa Fitzgerald said he believed it was a “targeted attack”.

“A couple of the criminals dealt with one or two of the witnesses who were filming them yesterday and tried to rough them up as well,” he told Nine’s Today on Saturday morning.

“If you see crimes like this unfold, even though it’s tempting to gather evidence, take care of yourself first rather than trying to get involved.”

NSW Police Superintendent Despa Fitzgerald said police believe a silver Kia Stinger found on fire on Park Road in nearby Sydenham was used as a “getaway car”.

A Mitsubishi Triton was also reported to have caught fire minutes later on Hercules Street in Dulwich Hill.

Police are also trying to track down a white Toyota Camry, with number plates DMM59H, which police believe one of the shooters may have gotten into after the incident.

“It’s very brazen and that’s why we believe it was a targeted attack, it’s not random and it’s lucky no other members of the public were involved in that incident,” Superintendent Fitzgerald said.

Another underworld source warned that a brazen gang war could be breaking out again in Sydney.

“Sydney is on fire right now,” the source said.

‘It’s like it was in the middle of last year, it may even be worse in reality.

“There are players sitting abroad, big players who aren’t even from Australia, waging a proxy war here because our drug market is so profitable. It’s scary.