Western Sydney salon forced into liquidation after three alleged firebomb attacks
Owner says repeated arson attempts left her unable to work; two men charged and refused bail
A Western Sydney beauty clinic has been forced into liquidation after being targeted in three alleged firebomb attacks this year, leaving the owner too traumatised to return to work and reliant on government payments, court records and interviews show.
Sheryne El‑Kak, 33, opened Sheryne Skin in Burwood in 2023. Police say the clinic was the scene of three separate incidents between June 13 and July 5 in which people forcibly entered the premises and poured accelerant inside. No staff or customers were reported injured, but Ms El‑Kak said the attacks destroyed her ability to run the business and forced her to stop trading.
According to CCTV footage described by police, the first attack occurred at about 5 a.m. on June 13 when two men gained entry. One man was filmed dousing the interior with an accelerant while wearing a hooded jumper, black pants and a checkered flannelette shirt; another clip showed one of the men slipping and accidentally setting himself alight. Police said the shop sustained only minor damage in that incident.
A second attempt took place on July 2 at about 11:30 p.m., when three men allegedly arrived in an allegedly stolen Subaru and poured an accelerant from a yellow jerry can around the clinic; the liquid did not ignite and the men fled, police said. After that attack Ms El‑Kak said she hired a full‑time security guard. On July 5, two men wearing orange high‑visibility clothing allegedly used axes in an attempt to break in but left when they found Ms El‑Kak and security staff present.
Ms El‑Kak, a nurse who had built a large online following for her clinic, said she has no idea why her business was targeted. "I don't have enemies. I've never been involved with any criminals," she told reporters. She said she stopped going to the salon after the third incident because she feared for her safety and that of her staff, could not pay rent and the business went into bankruptcy. The landlord later locked the property over unpaid bills, she said.
The three alleged attacks prompted a police investigation that led to arrests in August. Authorities arrested Bassam Charrouf, 42, and Ayman Kalaoun, 43, at their homes and seized clothing from Charrouf's residence that police say matched the clothing seen on the CCTV footage. Charrouf faces charges that include aggravated break and enter to commit a serious indictable offence and aggravated break and enter with intent in company, and was refused bail at Liverpool Court. Court documents state he was serving parole at the time of the alleged incidents; police said that parole runs until Oct. 16, 2028. Charrouf is due to appear at Burwood Court on Oct. 1.
Kalaoun was charged with aggravated break and enter to commit a serious indictable offence. He was refused bail at Bankstown Court and is due to appear at Burwood Court on Oct. 8.
The collapse of Sheryne Skin underscores the economic and personal toll that repeated criminal attacks can have on small businesses. Ms El‑Kak said the clinic had attracted more than 60,000 followers on social media and that the business had been thriving before the incidents. She said she now lives on Centrelink payments to support her young family and rarely leaves home.
The ordeal prompted Ms El‑Kak to enrol in law studies at the University of New England. She said she hopes to work in family law or as an independent children's lawyer to help others in vulnerable positions.
Police have not disclosed whether investigators have identified a motive. Court processes for the two men remain ongoing, and no conviction has been recorded. Local authorities did not provide further comment on the status of the property or any police advice issued to other small businesses in the neighbourhood.