Rasoul Al-Musawi, a 47-year-old Iraqi Shiite religious leader at the centre, was shot in the face and shoulder as he was locking up the centre about 1.15am on Monday. Occupants of the Islamic centre where a man was shot. Credit:Nick Moir Witnesses dragged him back into the centre and gave him first aid until paramedics arrived and took him to hospital. He underwent surgery to remove the pellets on Monday. Mr Al-Musawi's daughter, who witnessed the attack, said he "has done nothing wrong to anyone". Jamal Daoud, a prominent member of Sydney's Shiite community, said a group of "extremists" had been targeting Shiite Muslims trying to enter the centre to observe Ashura, a 10-day ritual to commemorate the death of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad.

Mr Daoud claimed that a number of attacks had been carried out on the centre in recent days by extremists and "supporters of ISIS". Crime scene: Rosedale Avenue in Greenacre. Credit:Nick Moir He said that about 8pm on Friday a man who was volunteering as a security guard at the centre was punched in the face by three men. Police are believed to be investigating that incident. Sheikh Zaid Alsalami, from the Afghan-dominated Nabi Akram Islamic Centre in Granville, said worshippers at the Greenacre centre were predominately Iraqi. Rasoul Al-Musawi, the victim in the shooting outside the Islamic prayer centre. Credit:Channel Ten

He said that, a few days ago, a group started an argument about Shia-Sunni topics and told the worshippers to stop their drumming within the centre. He said the attacks were not related to internal disputes over the running of the centre. "The dispute over the centre would not have escalated to such a level where someone would shoot a person in front of the centre," he said. Mr Daoud said that, earlier on Sunday night, the leader of the Islamic centre had phoned police to complain that people were driving past and making threats, including that "ISIS is coming". "These people have been conducting a campaign of intimidation for the past few weeks. I talk to many of the people in the community, and they're very concerned and they're very scared."

On Monday morning, police taped off the centre, which is located in an industrial area and is surrounded by warehouses and smash repairers, and were using firearms and dogs as they examined the shooting scene. Inspector David Firth, from the Bankstown Local Area Command, said detectives were investigating whether the shots were fired from a passing vehicle. "At this point in time it does not appear that there is any type of motivation for the shooting and ... we're following further lines of inquiry and speaking to witnesses to establish a motive for the offence," he said. Loading Police would not say if they were investigating whether religious tensions were believed to be behind the shooting.

Detectives have appealed for anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit the Crime Stoppers online reporting page.