A huge manhunt is under way for a 'heavily armed' male suspect after two Australian police officers were shot dead and one injured in an ambush at a property in a small rural town in Victoria state. The situation in Porepunkah, situated in the Australian Alps about 300km northeast of Melbourne, has been declared an 'active incident' with hundreds of personnel deployed to locate the suspect.
The officers were ambushed while serving an arrest warrant, reportedly connected to historical sex offenses. After the shooting, the suspect fled into the surrounding bushland. Efforts to locate the man's wife and children are ongoing, as police believe he was on his own at the time of the attack.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush stated that the suspect fired upon the officers shortly after their arrival, resulting in the tragic deaths of a 59-year-old detective and a 35-year-old senior constable, both described as having been murdered in cold blood. A third officer was seriously injured and has been airlifted to a hospital.
As the manhunt unfolds, locals have been advised to stay indoors for their safety. Bush emphasized the priority of apprehending the suspect, stating, [Our] priority is to arrest him and bring safety and security to this community.
Local resident Emily White expressed the community's shock at the incident, reflecting on their typically safe environment where doors are often left unlocked.
Reports suggest the alleged assailant identifies as a self-declared 'sovereign citizen,' a movement that challenges the authority of government laws, a belief experiencing a resurgence spurred by mistrust in authorities. Gun crime, while rare in Australia due to strict regulations, poses a concerning issue as highlighted in this incident.
The officers were ambushed while serving an arrest warrant, reportedly connected to historical sex offenses. After the shooting, the suspect fled into the surrounding bushland. Efforts to locate the man's wife and children are ongoing, as police believe he was on his own at the time of the attack.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush stated that the suspect fired upon the officers shortly after their arrival, resulting in the tragic deaths of a 59-year-old detective and a 35-year-old senior constable, both described as having been murdered in cold blood. A third officer was seriously injured and has been airlifted to a hospital.
As the manhunt unfolds, locals have been advised to stay indoors for their safety. Bush emphasized the priority of apprehending the suspect, stating, [Our] priority is to arrest him and bring safety and security to this community.
Local resident Emily White expressed the community's shock at the incident, reflecting on their typically safe environment where doors are often left unlocked.
Reports suggest the alleged assailant identifies as a self-declared 'sovereign citizen,' a movement that challenges the authority of government laws, a belief experiencing a resurgence spurred by mistrust in authorities. Gun crime, while rare in Australia due to strict regulations, poses a concerning issue as highlighted in this incident.
