Gangland shooting of Fadi Haddara in Melbourne's Altona North sparks underworld fears

Consensus Summary

Crime family patriarch Fadi Haddara, 48, was ambushed and shot multiple times in his driveway in Altona North on Sunday evening, shortly before 8pm, leaving him in critical but stable condition at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. The attack, described as a targeted and professionally executed hit, occurred outside his home on Marigold Avenue, where Haddara was discovered lying in a pool of blood next to his black BMW with gunshot wounds to his face, stomach, and chest. Police have yet to identify suspects, the weapon used, or the getaway vehicle, though investigators are reviewing CCTV footage and intelligence from Operation Eclipse, which targets The Commission, the organised crime cartel led by jailed kingpin Kazem Hamad. Haddara’s four children were inside the home during the ambush, and neighbours reported hearing yelling as detectives arrived at the scene.

Haddara’s shooting has sent shockwaves through Melbourne’s underworld, where he was once a dominant figure in the illicit tobacco trade before being forced out by Hamad in early 2023. The conflict between the two factions escalated violently, with Hamad’s group launching a campaign of firebombings, drive-by shootings, and assassinations targeting Haddara’s associates and businesses. By February 2024, Haddara allegedly surrendered his stake in the tobacco trade in exchange for a $1 million payment and immunity, marking a rare truce in the decades-long feud. However, the underworld remains divided over whether the shooting signals a new phase of violence or the settling of an old score, with some sources speculating it could be a message from Hamad’s syndicate, now led by his 23-year-old associate in Iraq.

Key figures in the story include Haddara, whose family has been involved in the tobacco trade for more than a decade, and Hamad, who was deported to Iraq in 2023 and sentenced to life in prison in January 2025. Haddara’s brother, Mohammed, was killed in a drive-by shooting in 2009, and two of Haddara’s allies—Mohammed ‘Afghan Ali’ Keshtiar in August 2023 and Sam ‘The Punisher’ Abdulrahim in January 2025—were also targeted in the ongoing conflict. Underworld sources, speaking to both The Age and ABC, describe the shooting as a potential catalyst for further violence, with some warning of a ‘big war that won’t stop.’ Police, however, have expressed hope that the incident will not prompt an escalation, though they acknowledge the challenges of investigating a crime with a long list of potential enemies.

While both outlets agree on the core details of the shooting and Haddara’s background, there are differences in emphasis and specific claims. The Age provides more granular details about Haddara’s recent activities, including his discovery of GPS trackers on his car in February 2024 and his legal denial of involvement in the tobacco trade. ABC, meanwhile, focuses more on the broader underworld reaction, including the imposition of a weekly tax on tobacco retailers by The Commission and the role of Hamad’s associates in continuing his operations from prison. Contradictions between sources include the exact timing of the shooting—The Age specifies ‘just before 8pm,’ while ABC uses ‘late this evening’—and the clarity of Haddara’s condition, which ABC initially described as ‘unclear’ before confirming his stability.

The unresolved question hanging over the investigation is the motive behind the attack. Underworld sources suggest it could be a power move by Hamad’s syndicate, while police have found no immediate evidence of a current threat against Haddara. The Commission, now led by Hamad’s young associate, has expanded its operations with increasingly violent tactics, including home invasions and targeted assassinations. Haddara’s lawyer has previously denied his client’s involvement in the tobacco trade, but the shooting has reignited speculation about unresolved grudges or a renewed turf war. Police are urging caution, warning that any retaliation could further destabilise the fragile peace between rival factions, though the underworld’s response remains uncertain.