WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Two police officers were killed and another officer was seriously injured in a shooting on rural Australian property Tuesday. The gunman stayed on the whole as police scrutinized the vast remote area.
The shooting comes as 10 armed police officers attempted to execute a search warrant at the property in Polepanca, a town of over 1,000 people in Victoria, 320 kilometers (200 miles) northeast of Melbourne.
The suspect killed the 59-year-old detective, and 35-year-old senior constable, Victoria State Police Chief Mike Bush, told reporters at a press conference in nearby Wangaratta city.
The officers “meet the criminals, but they were murdered in cold blood,” Bush said. The man fled alone on foot, and heavily armed the surrounding forests where hundreds of officers were still searching for him, the police chief said.
Bush does not reveal what the warrant is related to, nor does he confirm the man’s name or belief motive. The officer was also looking for the man’s wife and two children, but his whereabouts were unknown.
Another detective was shot dead and had surgery Tuesday night, Bush said. The man’s injuries were not life-threatening.
Police urged residents to stay indoors and told the public not to travel to the area. Public buildings and nearby airfields have been closed. Local schools with more than 100 students were closed for hours before students were allowed home.
As the darkness fell, a huge manhunt followed. Television reports showed helicopters and police dogs in the area.
Known for its vineyards and scenic views, Polepanca is the gateway to Victoria’s alpine tourist destinations.
Members of the Victoria police union were struck by a “shocking and eerie feeling of fear.”
“The police station is silent in Victoria when we were first notified.”
According to the National Police Memorial website, the last police officer shot dead while working in the country took place in South Australia in 2023. In 2022, there were two officers. Shot by Christian extremists In rural Queensland.
Three conspiracy theorists who hated the police were shot dead by police after a six-hour siege in the area of Weamvila.
Episodes like this encourage news coverage nationwide as shooting deaths in Australia are rare.
a 1996 Massacre In the Tasmanian town of Port Arthur, lonely gunmen killed 35 people, causing the government to tighten gun laws significantly, making it much more difficult for Australians to acquire firearms.
