Two charged with murder of Australian grandfather after 'mistaken identity' kidnapping

Two men in their 20s have been charged with the kidnap and murder of a Sydney grandfather.

Police say widower Chris Baghsarian, 85, was taken from his home in the northern suburb of North Ryde on 13 February, in what they believe was a case of mistaken identity. He was found dead on Monday.

Local media say the alleged attack may have been aimed at a family with links to organised crime.

The two men were refused bail and will appear in court on Thursday.

Investigators say more arrests are likely as they believe others are involved in the alleged kidnapping and murder.

The two men, aged 24 and 29, were arrested earlier on Wednesday, as forensic testing confirmed that a body located near a golf course on the city outskirts belonged to Baghsarian.

They were charged with murder and detaining a person with intent to ransom and occasion actual bodily harm.

Both were previously known to authorities for minor matters.

Police said: "Early inquiries established that Chris Baghsarian was not the intended target of the kidnapping and had been taken in a case of mistaken identity."

Baghsarian's family have welcomed news of the arrests, and requested the media respect their privacy.

New South Wales Robbery and Serious Crime Squad Commander Andrew Marks described the attack as "somebody's worst nightmare".

"The fact that an innocent man was taken from his home is not acceptable," he said, quoted by AFP.

"These people need to be held to account for that."

In the days after the kidnapping, police made several pleas for those who had taken Baghsarian to safely return him as he had health issues and needed daily medication.

Police have said the discovery of two burnt-out cars and a raid on an abandoned property in Dural, an outer suburb of Sydney, led them to an area in nearby Pitt Town where they found the remains.

Authorities have urged any witnesses who saw anything near the golf course on 14 February - the day after the kidnapping - to contact police.