Police have shot dead three people after a siege at a remote property on Queensland’s Darling Downs in which two officers and a member of the public were killed.
Earlier on Monday, four police officers were at the isolated rural property to investigate reports of a missing person from New South Wales and were met with a hail of gunfire.
Police returned fire but two officers, who were under the age of 30, were critically injured and died at the scene. The two officers have since been identified as Constable Rachel McCrow, 29, and Constable Matthew Arnold, 26.
A member of the public, believed to be a neighbour, who also responded to the gunfire was killed.
At 4.45pm, another two officers were wounded when at least two gunmen opened fire at the rural property at Wains Road in Wieambilla, about three hours west of Brisbane.
It is understood a female officer, in her first year and only a few weeks out of the police academy, managed to flee the scene and help raise the alarm.
Authorities said a siege situation then ensued at the property and specialist police officers and PolAir responded.
Just after 10.30pm on Monday, two men and one woman were fatally shot by police at the property.
At a press conference late on Monday night, Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said the event was extremely distressing.
“Tragically, this is the largest loss of life we have suffered in one single incident in recent times,” Commissioner Carroll said.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also said it was a “heartbreaking day” for the loved ones of the officers killed.
“My condolences to all who are grieving tonight – Australia mourns with you,” Mr Albanese wrote on Twitter.
Source: The Sydney Morning Herald.
