A woman clad in a dressing gown and flip-flops was forcibly removed from her residence by heavily armed police officers and subsequently charged with conspiracy to murder a high-profile rapper, following a series of shootings across Sydney.
Arrest Details
Rebekah Hansell, 23, was taken into custody during an early morning raid at her home in Whalan, located in Sydney's western suburbs, on Wednesday. The arrest came after police established a connection between an armed interception on the M4 Motorway last month and four separate public place shootings.
Authorities allege that Hansell played a pivotal role in coordinating serious organized criminal activities, including shootings, conspiracy to murder, firearm offenses, and the staging of vehicles.
Footage released by New South Wales Police captures the moment tactical officers breached her front door, after which Hansell was searched by a female officer. Dressed in pink pyjamas and a grey dressing gown adorned with bow ties, she was escorted to a police wagon and handcuffed. Her elaborately manicured nails were visible as officers removed her numerous rings and jewellery before instructing her to sit in the back of the paddy wagon.
Charges and Allegations
Hansell was transported to Mount Druitt Police Station and later charged with conspiring and agreeing to murder any person, as well as participating in a criminal group that contributes to criminal activity. A white Mitsubishi Lancer was also seized from the property and is believed to have been taken for forensic testing.
According to The Daily Telegraph, Hansell has been charged in connection with an alleged plot to murder rapper Ali 'Ay Huncho' Younes, who is reportedly associated with the Alameddine crime clan. The alleged murder plot was set to take place in Wentworthville on April 11.
Investigation Background
In a statement to the media, New South Wales Police detailed that the investigation began on April 11, when an allegedly stolen Audi was rammed by police in Lidcombe after attempts to stop the vehicle on the Great Western Highway were unsuccessful.
"During the pursuit, the occupants of the vehicle were seen allegedly throwing jerry cans from the vehicle onto the M4 Motorway, near Silverwater," the statement read. "The vehicle stopped after it was rammed, after which the three men ran from the vehicle."
Police, with assistance from officers attached to PolAir, Dog Squad, and Auburn Police Area Command, arrested all three men nearby after a foot pursuit. A search of the car allegedly uncovered a semi-automatic rifle, a pistol, and cloned number plates, all of which were seized for forensic examination.
Investigators allege they subsequently established a link between the vehicle and plates to four public place shootings in Colyton, St Johns Park, and Panania earlier this year. The three men—one aged 28 and two aged 24—were charged and remain before the courts.
Court Appearance
Hansell was refused bail and is scheduled to appear at Mt Druitt Local Court on Thursday. Police have indicated that investigations are ongoing.
