Australian granddad kidnapped in case of mistaken identity

Advertisement World Australian granddad kidnapped in case of mistaken identity Chris Baghsarian, 85, was kidnapped from his home by three intruders in Sydney in a case of mistaken identity. (Photo: Facebook/NSW Police Force) 16 Feb 2026 12:08PM (Updated: 16 Feb 2026 12:16PM) Bookmark Bookmark Share WhatsApp Telegram Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Set CNA as your preferred source on Google Add CNA as a trusted source to help Google better understand and surface our content in search results. Read a summary of this article on FAST. Get bite-sized news via a newcards interface. Give it a try. Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST FAST SYDNEY: Australian police on Monday (Feb 16) appealed for the urgent return of an 85-year-old man kidnapped in what they said was a case of mistaken identity.Police received reports early Friday that octogenarian Chris Baghsarian had been lifted from his home by three intruders in Sydney's North Ryde suburb.The kidnappers had been targeting an individual linked to the western Sydney-based Alameddine crime network, national broadcaster ABC said.Grandfather Baghsarian, however, is "not involved in any criminal world", Robbery and Serious Crime Squad Commander Andrew Marks told journalists on Monday."I'm a million per cent confident they have the wrong person," he said."It's not an instance where they are randomly taking people for the sake of it. They were intending to take somebody, but have taken the wrong person," Marks added.In what he admitted was a "very strange appeal" he urged the kidnappers to release their geriatric prisoner as soon as possible.Baghsarian was wearing grey pyjamas and a red and green flannel shirt at the time of the kidnapping, police said.The victim requires daily medical attention and his family are in deep distress.Videos and photos have circulated within Sydney's criminal underworld of Baghsarian with severe injuries, local media reported."The fact that these offenders or these kidnappers have got it so wrong is concerning," Marks said.But he stressed "that those who have elderly parents or grandparents need not fear". Source: AFP/co Sign up for our newsletters Get our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inbox Subscribe here Get the CNA app Stay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best stories Download here Get WhatsApp alerts Join our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat app Join here Related Topics Australia crime Advertisement Also worth reading Content is loading... Advertisement Expand to read the full story Get bite-sized news via a newcards interface. Give it a try. Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST FAST