Two charged over alleged murder of Sydney grandfather kidnapped by mistake

Australian police have charged two men, both in their 20s, for the alleged murder and kidnap of a Sydney grandfather, who is believed to have been targeted by mistake.

Widower Chris Baghsarian, 85, was forcibly taken from his North Ryde home in a pre-dawn raid on 13 February by several men who bundled him into an SUV.

Police say he was not the intended target of the alleged attack, which local media have reported may have been aimed at a family with links to organised crime.

On Wednesday, Gerard Andrews, 29, and Daniel Stevens, 24, were arrested and charged with the alleged kidnap and murder. Both were refused bail and were due to appear in court on Thursday.

Earlier, police said both men were previously known to authorities for minor matters. More arrests were likely, investigators added, as they believe others were involved in the alleged kidnapping and murder.

During the arrests, police also seized vehicles, electronics, and clothing as part of investigations.

The charges come just days after police found human remains near a golf course on the city outskirts. Forensic testing has since confirmed the remains belong to Baghsarian.

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

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

Authorities said they were "a million percent confident" the wrong man had been taken - neither Baghsarian nor his family had any links to organised crime.

As videos of an injured Baghsarian circled online, his family described their ordeal as a surreal nightmare.

"We are struggling to make sense of the fact that he has been taken and that our family has been caught up in something that has nothing to do with us," they said in a statement shortly after the kidnapping.

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

Police refused to provide any details on the condition the body was found in, but said an autopsy would be carried out to formally identify the person and determine their cause of death.

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