A huge manhunt is underway for a heavily armed male suspect after two Australian police officers were shot dead and one injured in an ambush at a property in the small rural town of Porepunkah in Victoria state.
Police described the situation as an active incident with hundreds of personnel deployed to find the suspect, who fled into the surrounding bush.
The officers were attacked as they attended the property to serve an arrest warrant related to historical sex offences.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush indicated that around ten officers arrived at the scene approximately at 10:30 local time when they were fired upon by the suspect. Two officers, a 59-year-old detective and a 35-year-old senior constable, were reported to be murdered in cold blood. A third officer was seriously injured and airlifted to the hospital.
Bush assured that all available resources were being utilized in the manhunt, stressing the need to prioritize public safety. Community members have been warned to stay indoors while the suspect remains at large.
The individual was seen leaving the scene alone and police are continuing efforts to track down his wife and children. Footage revealed multiple police units and a helicopter actively searching the area.
Porepunkah is a small community with a population of around 1,000 and forms part of the Alpine Shire local government area. In response to the tragic events, Alpine Shire Mayor Sarah Nicholas expressed condolences, emphasizing the community's profound sorrow.
While gun crime is relatively rare in Australia due to stringent regulations, incidents involving self-declared sovereign citizens, who believe they are not subject to government authority, have been on the rise, particularly driven by distrust in authorities amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
