AN Aussie mum was kidnapped in front of her two children by a gang of masked men before her body was found in a burnt-out car just an hour later.
The 45-year-old was dragged from her Sydney home late Thursday night by five men wearing balaclavas, one armed with a gun and another wielding a baseball bat.
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The chilling abduction unfolded in front of her sons, aged eight and 15.
The younger boy is now fighting for his life after being savagely beaten with a baseball bat during the home invasion.
He has been in an induced coma after undergoing emergency surgery.
His older brother was also taken to hospital for assessment.
Police were first called to the home in Bankstown at 10.30pm.
Within an hour, emergency services were battling a car blaze just 10 minutes away on Welfare Avenue in Beverly Hills.
A body, believed to be that of the kidnapped mum, was discovered in the back seat, Australian outlet 9News reports.
Superintendent Rodney Hart said: “Although identification at this case is impossible, we strongly believe and suspect unfortunately … the body is that of the 45-year-old woman.
He added the “horrendous” crime displayed an “unheard of” level of violence.
Superintendent Hart also said the dark-coloured SUV used in the kidnapping matched the car model found torched at the second crime scene.
Horrific CCTV footage has since emerged showing the moment the masked gang stormed the woman’s home and forcibly bundled her into the vehicle.
Police are combing through surveillance from Bankstown to Beverly Hills and across surrounding suburbs.
At least two cars were seen pulling up outside the home during the terrifying raid, including a white sedan.
A neighbour living in a granny flat behind the family’s home said she had no idea what had happened until police arrived on Friday.
“Sometimes I just say hi,” she said.
“They have two boys. Her kids are always inside. They do not play with my girls. I feel sad for her and for her children.”
The woman’s husband was interstate on business at the time of the attack and has since returned to be by his son’s hospital bedside.
Investigators have dusted the house for fingerprints, and crime scenes remain in place in both Bankstown and Beverly Hills.
Superintendent Hart assured the community the horror attack appeared to be targeted.
“We don’t know what the motive is, we don’t know too much about the family, they are not well known to police at all,” he said.
“We don’t know if it’s organised crime, we don’t know if it’s gang related.”
He added: “The two children are our main focus. Their welfare and their security is paramount to us. We will do everything we can with their support and their safety.”
A neighbour across the street from the burning car said he heard “a loud bang” and saw a vehicle “engulfed in flames”.
The man told Daily Mail Australia: “My son saw it also. He was the one who called Triple Zero.
“He was on the phone for quite some time telling them what happened.”
Police are still hunting the five masked suspects and urge anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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