Police arrest two in Sydney raids on Hells Angels and Nomads bikies

Two people are in custody and two guns have been seized after a series of raids by police of Sydney properties linked to the Hells Angels and Nomad bikie gangs. The simultaneous raids involving 160 officers were carried out at 18 properties across 14 suburbs from 6am today. They include the Bella Vista home of former Nomads boss Sam Ibrahim and the western Sydney residence of high ranking Hells Angel Jeffery Sahyouh. The raids were led by officers from Strike Force Kinnarra, set up in a bid to end the escalating violence between the two feuding groups. State Crime Commander, acting Assistant Commissioner Mal Lanyon, said police also located drugs, knuckledusters, mobile phones and bikie colours in the raids. He denied this morning's action was a public relations exercise after the attention that the tit-for-tat violence between the two groups has attracted since April 17. "We have seized a large amount of items which will be subject to forensic examination and further persons will be charged," assistant Commissioner Lanyon said. "I'm very confident that out of today's raids that people will be charged with additional offences. This is but the tip of the iceberg." The suburbs raided were all in Sydney's west and north-west. They were Cranebrook, Georges Hall, Auburn, Granville, Parramatta, St Marys, Blackett, Merrylands, Rosehill, Constitution Hill, Guildford, Pemulwuy, Pennant Hills and Bella Vista. Strike Force Kinnarra was established on April 17 after five properties linked to the Hells Angels were sprayed with bullets in a series of drive-bys. Police believe they were reprisal attacks carried out by members and associates of the Nomads after one of their members was targeted only days earlier. Before today's raids, five people had been arrested and charged by Kinnarra.