Australia Australia - Chris Baghsarian, 85, Sydney, Kidnapped 13 February 2026

[imstilla.grandma]

Detectives say they are certain he was not the intended target, with law enforcement sources telling the ABC the abduction plot was supposed to involve a figure with links to the Alameddine crime family.

There are concerns about Baghsarian's wellbeing due his age and because he requires daily medication.

NSW Police are also investigating a video that has emerged which shows the 85-year-old with his hands tied and his face covered.

In a social media post reflecting on their lives together, Arthur Hagopian said he wanted his cousin home safely.

"As I pass by the boarded up window the intruders had shattered in their forced entry into his house, all I can do is utter a prayer for his safe return," he said.

"The Armenian community here share the agony of his son and daughter, but there is nothing on earth anyone can do until, by some miracle, the kidnappers have a change of heart, if they even possess one, and release him.

"We can't wait to pick up where we left off."

Cousin pleads with Sydney man Chris Baghsarian's abductors for release

Detectives say they are certain he was not the intended target.

www.rnz.co.nz

 

[Molly's Mom]

Police say kidnapped grandfather likely mistaken for crime network figure

This doesn't have much news but I don't feel like Mr. Baghsarian will be returned. The kidnappers risk too much by returning him. What do they say, "Oops, my bad"?

 

[Molly's Mom]

I'm shocked this case isn't getting more press here in Australia. Considering the Nancy Guthrie case has some parallels and is making headlines still here. I hope it wasn't a copycat although the potential link to organised crime makes it unlikely IMO

I can only hope the reason it's not getting more press is that there is a lot of work going on behind the scenes and the police don't want to jeopardize anything.

 

[Lisbeth_S]

I wonder if police know for a fact that he is the wrong target....they sound very confident and the way they phrased it sounded like they already know who was supposed to be taken.

Very weird.

The other disturbing option that's floating in my mind is whether this could have been "inspired" by the Guthrie case given all the attention it has received. I have to say, it would be a pretty stupid thing exactly because of all the attention it has attracted, but criminals often are not the smartest tools in the shed.

Regardless of the motive, it's badness all over.

 

[Lisbeth_S]

I wonder if police know for a fact that he is the wrong target....they sound very confident and the way they phrased it sounded like they already know who was supposed to be taken.

Very weird.

The other disturbing option that's floating in my mind is whether this could have been "inspired" by the Guthrie case given all the attention it has received. I have to say, it would be a pretty stupid thing exactly because of all the attention it has attracted, but criminals often are not the smartest tools in the shed.

Regardless of the motive, it's badness all over.

Replying to my post to add something I just read, that answers my questions.

"Detectives say they are certain he was not the intended target, with law enforcement sources telling the ABC the abduction plot was supposed to involve a figure with links to the Alameddine crime family."

Cousin pleads with Sydney man Chris Baghsarian's abductors for release

 

[nhmemorymaker]

I wonder if police know for a fact that he is the wrong target....they sound very confident and the way they phrased it sounded like they already know who was supposed to be taken.

Very weird.

The other disturbing option that's floating in my mind is whether this could have been "inspired" by the Guthrie case given all the attention it has received. I have to say, it would be a pretty stupid thing exactly because of all the attention it has attracted, but criminals often are not the smartest tools in the shed.

Regardless of the motive, it's badness all over.

The thought relating this to Guthrie is going to become so familiar in our futures.... that is for certain.
This is why I thought they were being rather low key in the press...as not to create the same bee swarm.

BUT they still have not made it more clear why they seem to know its a mistaken identity....

 

[nhmemorymaker]

The thought relating this to Guthrie is going to become so familiar in our futures.... that is for certain.
This is why I thought they were being rather low key in the press...as not to create the same bee swarm.

BUT they still have not made it more clear why they seem to know its a mistaken identity....

ok, thanks Lisbeth_S... at least a bit more clarity on the crime family... but geeez let him go

 

[Mack the Knife]

From Wikipedia:

The Alameddine crime network or Alameddine family is an Australian organised crime group that operates out of the Western Sydney suburb of Merrylands. The gang, led by Rafat Alameddine is allegedly one of the biggest drug-trafficking organisations in Sydney, with New South Wales Police declaring the organisation to have reportedly earned around $1 million in weekly profit at its peak. Since October 2020, the Alameddines have grown to public notoriety in connection to an extended feud they became involved in with the Hamzy/Hamze crime family, the most dominant faction of the Brothers for Life organisation, within the Sydney gangland war of the early 2020s.

I’m completely unfamiliar with Australia/Sydney gangs, but the Wikipedia has a long list of very public crimes that sure paint a picture. Unless the perpetrators have some sort of honor code prohibiting them from killing civilians, I don’t have much hope. The Alameddine crime network and their enemies seem to be fine with killing people and fine with getting caught.

 

[Molly's Mom]

From Wikipedia:

I’m completely unfamiliar with Australia/Sydney gangs, but the Wikipedia has a long list of very public crimes that sure paint a picture. Unless the perpetrators have some sort of honor code prohibiting them from killing civilians, I don’t have much hope. The Alameddine crime network and their enemies seem to be fine with killing people and fine with getting caught.

This is exactly my fear.

 

[Strangeworld]

I'm really surprised there isn't more media coverage but I guess if this involves organised crime or similar, then this might be the reason. I keep hoping to wake and see he has been returned to his family

 

[imstilla.grandma]

It's not often police implore criminals to be generous.

But investigators have made a direct appeal to kidnappers for the safe return of an elderly grandfather they are certain was taken by mistake.

Chris Baghsarian, 85, has been held captive since three men bundled him into a dark-coloured SUV outside his Sydney home shortly before dawn on Friday.

While police are confident the grandfather and widower is still alive, videos of him restrained in an unknown location have prompted grave concerns for his safety

"He's on daily medication ... every hour is very important," acting Detective Superintendent Andrew Marks told reporters on Monday.

"(The videos) are distressing, to see an 85-year-old man in that condition."
Vision published by Nine News shows a dark Toyota pulling into a street in North Ryde before Mr Baghsarian is abducted from his home.

A man in hi-vis clothing is seen emerging from the car, followed by an accomplice.
Moments later, they are seen pushing the elderly man across the landing as the car moves closer

Kidnappers of elderly widower told they have wrong man

An 85-year-old grandfather taken captive several days ago needs urgent medical attention, police say as they issue a...

www.canberratimes.com.au