Tragic Shooting Claims Lives of Two Officers in Australia

Wellington, New Zealand, Aug 26 (AP) In a tragic incident in rural Australia, two police officers lost their lives while a third was seriously injured in a shooting on Tuesday. The suspect, heavily armed, remains at large as law enforcement continues an extensive search across the vast, remote region.

The tragedy unfolded midmorning when a group of 10 armed officers arrived to execute a search warrant at a property in Porepunkah, a small town with a population of just over 1,000 in Victoria state, situated 320 kilometers northeast of Melbourne.

Victoria's Chief Commissioner of Police, Mike Bush, informed the media during a briefing in the nearby city of Wangaratta that the gunman fatally shot a 59-year-old detective and a 35-year-old senior constable.

“The officers were met by the offender and were murdered in cold blood,” Bush said. The suspect fled on foot into the surrounding forest, armed, prompting a massive search involving hundreds of officers.

Bush refrained from sharing details about the purpose of the warrant and did not reveal the suspect's name or potential motives. Police are also searching for the suspect's wife and two children, whose whereabouts remain unknown.

A second detective injured in the shooting is undergoing surgery, and his condition is not life-threatening, according to Bush.

Authorities have advised residents to remain indoors and have closed public buildings and the nearby airfield. A local school, comprised of over 100 students, went into lockdown but eventually allowed students to return home safely.

As night set in, the search, involving helicopters and police dogs, continued in full force.

Porepunkah, recognized for its vineyards and picturesque landscapes, serves as a gateway to Victoria’s alpine tourist areas.

The events have deeply affected members of Victoria’s police union. Secretary Wayne Gatt of Police Association Victoria described the atmosphere as a “shocking and eerie feeling of dread.”

“Police stations have fallen silent in Victoria when we were first notified,” he added.

The most recent shooting death of a police officer on duty in Australia occurred in 2023 in South Australia, based on information from the National Police Memorial website. In 2022, two officers were shot and killed by Christian extremists at a rural property in Queensland.

The three shooters, known conspiracy theorists and police adversaries, were ultimately killed by officers after a six-hour standoff in Wieambilla.

Incidents like these garner significant national attention due to the rarity of shooting deaths in Australia.

The infamous 1996 massacre in Port Arthur, Tasmania, where a lone assailant claimed 35 lives, led the government to significantly strengthen gun control laws, making firearm acquisition much more difficult in Australia.