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A police chopper hovering above, convoys of luxury four-wheel-drives and the Ibrahim family - this was an underworld funeral Sydney has not seen for some years.
Hundreds attended Lakemba Mosque on Thursday to farewell convicted killer and standover man Walid "Wally" Ahmad. The father-of-six was gunned down while sitting in a cafe at a Bankstown shopping centre last Friday.
At the time of the 41-year-old's death, he was the subject of at least one extortion investigation and a murder probe but he was well known to police for more than a decade as a prominent figure in south-western Sydney's criminal milieu.
And with some infamous identities among the mourners, and Ahmad's killer on the run, police were not taking any chances.
PolAir, the force's chopper, circled above as the crowds gathered and members of the police's Public Order and Riot Squad lapped the block.
The police were making their presence felt before keeping a respectful distance as the funeral began.
Among those paying their respects were Fadi and Michael Ibrahim, the brothers of Kings Cross identity John Ibrahim.
They pair were flanked by two of their nephews and long-time Ibrahim family muscle Semi "Tongan Sam" Ngata.
It is understood that Michael Ibrahim and Wally Ahmad had their differences over the years but that the Ibrahims' attendance on Thursday was out of respect.
Members of the Ahmad family had previously attended the funeral of the Ibrahims' father.
The funeral brought the street surrounding the mosque to a standstill as Ahmad's body was carried down the steps to a hearse.
It is understood Ahmad was shot up to six times after a gym session at Bankstown Central Shopping Centre.
Ahmad's associate Nael "Kojak" Halid and an innocent bystander, Hoda Darwiche, were taken hospital after being caught in the crossfire.
Police had wanted to speak to Ahmad over a fatal shooting at his smash repair shop at nearby Condell Park a few weeks earlier.
Safwan Charbaji, 32, was shot in the head and chest and died in the confrontation on Ilma Street. His funeral was held at Lakemba Mosque last month.
Also injured was Abdullah El Masri, 35, who was shot in the face. Mr El Masri was believed to have been a close associate of Ahmad.
The homicide investigation into Ahmad's death moved interstate this week when a crashed ute, possibly linked to the shooting, was found in country Victoria.
A truck driver who saw the crash told police two men in the car - one dressed in a high-visibility shirt - walked away unscathed.
Detectives are still looking for the pair but are wary of confirming a link between the car and Ahmad's killing.
With Ava Benny-Morrison