Kidnapping at the Family Home (Bankstown)
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A group of up to five masked men, dressed in black and armed with at least one gun and a baseball bat, forced their way into a home in Bankstown around 10:30 pm. They assaulted a 45‑year‑old mother, kidnapped her in front of her two sons (aged 8 and 15), and forced her into a dark SUV while her sons watched in terror. The 8‑year‑old was severely injured with a bat and underwent surgery; his older brother was also taken to hospital for assessment. The father was away on a business trip but is returning to support his family.
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Discovery of the Body (Beverly Hills)
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About an hour later, emergency services responded to a car fire in the nearby suburb of Beverly Hills (around 11:30 pm), about 4 km from the home. Firefighters extinguished an intense blaze and discovered a heavily burned body in the back seat. Police strongly suspect the remains belong to the kidnapped woman, though a forensic autopsy is pending to confirm identity and cause of death.
Official Response & Investigation
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Strike Force Bushfield has been established by NSW Police, involving local detectives, homicide squad, and Campsie investigators, to investigate the case. Crime scenes have been secured at both locations, and officers are canvassing CCTV footage and witnesses across the 6 km route between scenes.
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Superintendent Rodney Hart called the crime “horrendous” and said the level of violence was unprecedented. Police stress this appears to be a targeted attack, not random violence, and the family was not previously known to police as linked to organized crime.
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Some reports suggest police are exploring whether the kidnapping was linked to organized crime or drug syndicate reprisals, possibly triggered by someone close to the victim crossing a criminal organization. That said, there is no indication that the woman or her immediate family were involved in illegal activities.
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The investigation remains active. Authorities are calling on anyone with information—no matter how small—to contact Crime Stoppers.
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A 45‑year‑old Bankstown woman was abducted at gunpoint from her home, witnessed by her young sons who were assaulted and hospitalized.
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Roughly one hour later, a charred body believed to be hers was found inside a burnt-out car in Beverly Hills.
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Police are treating the incident as a targeted kidnapping and murder, not random violence, and have launched a full homicide investigation.
