A STATEWIDE alert has reportedly been issued to Victorian police after death threats were made by the family of a man shot dead in a police raid. Mohamed Chaouk, 31, was shot dead by a Special Operations Group officer during a dawn raid on a house in Brooklyn on Tuesday. Distraught relatives of Mr Chaouk attacked police outside the house hours after the shooting and threatened to take revenge.Police took the threats seriously and erected a screen around the crime scene to protect officers from the possibility of a drive by shooting. Now an email has reportedly been sent to police warning that the death threats are to be taken seriously. In an extract of the email published by The Age newspaper today police are warned that the death threats are to be taken seriously. "The Chaouk family and associates are well known to local police and have displayed violent behaviour and extreme hatred to police on a number of occasions and have access to firearms and other weapons," the extract read.
A police spokeswoman would not comment on the email this morning. The Office of Police Integrity (OPI), run by the state Ombudsman, will conduct an investigation into the shooting and into other fatal police shootings over the past two years. The Police Association today condemned the new investigation. The association's assistant Secretary Bruce McKenzie said there were already inquiries into the shooting being carried out by the Homicide Squad and the Ethical Standards Department. "Just how many more inquiries must we put our members through," he said. "Through his actions the Ombudsman is undermining the process which Victoria Police is currently going through and is sending a message of distrust in the existing process to the Victorian public."
The dead man's father Macchour Chaouk, 48, and his brothers Ali Chaouk, 25 and Matwali Chaouk, 21, were arrested in Tuesday's raid and are facing numerous charges. Corrections Victoria yesterday refused the three men permission to attend Mohamed Chaouk's funeral. Friends paid tribute to Mr Chaouk in death notices in today's Herald Sun newspaper.
One friend wrote: "A good person with a good heart. I can't believe how this could happen to you." Another farewell read: "We're gunna miss you Bro. It will never be the same without you - Your Boys from Brooklyn." A tribute from Jordan, Dylan and Damian read: "Thank you for always pointing out what a lady I am, letting me know how proud you are of me and showing my boys how to be good to their Mum. I can't bring myself to tell them that you're gone." Mr Chaouk will be buried after a prayer service in Melbourne today.