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A large-scale manhunt is underway in Porepunkah, a small rural town in Victoria’s Alpine region, after two police officers were killed and another was wounded in an attack during an operation to serve an arrest warrant. The incident prompted hundreds of officers to descend on the town, which lies about 300 km northeast of Melbourne, with police describing the scene as an “active incident.”

Authorities say 10 officers attended a property on Tuesday at about 10:30 local time to execute an arrest warrant believed to relate to historical sexual offences. The suspect fired on the officers as they arrived and then fled into nearby bush, alone, according to police. Media reports identified the suspect as Dezi Freeman, though police have not officially confirmed that name.

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush appealed for the suspect to surrender, saying the community could be kept safe by resolving the situation peacefully. “My message to that person is give yourself up, so that the community can be at peace and we can have this resolved peacefully,” he said.

Two officers — a 59-year-old detective and a 35-year-old senior constable — were killed in what police described as a “murderous” ambush. A third officer was shot in the lower body, was airlifted to hospital, and underwent surgery. His injuries were described as not life-threatening.

Authorities emphasised that the suspect was believed to be on his own at the time of the shooting, and officers were still trying to locate any partner or children who might have been with him. The police chief noted that the scale of the response reflected the risk involved and urged residents to stay indoors while the search continued.

Footage from the scene earlier showed a heavy police presence, including a helicopter circling overhead as investigators worked to locate the gunman. Porepunkah is a town of around 1,000 people in Alpine Shire, and residents were advised to avoid travel to the area.

Local leadership expressed sorrow. Mayor Sarah Nicholas paid tribute to the fallen officers and pledged support for their families, saying the community was united in grief. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan commended the officers’ bravery and the risks they faced in protecting the public.

In interviews with the BBC, local resident Emily White described sheltering in a caravan park with guests, noting how the community was grappling with the shock of the incident. She reflected on how such violence is a rarity in Australia, known for strict gun controls, yet acknowledged the unsettling nature of the events in a quiet rural setting.

Background information circulated about the suspect: Freeman had previously attracted attention in 2021 after attempting to privately prosecute then-Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews for treason and fraud. Freeman identifies as a “sovereign citizen,” part of a movement that has gained renewed attention in recent years amid broader mistrust in authorities. Australian federal police have warned that the SovCit movement carries an underlying potential for violence. The country has seen few gun crimes compared with other nations, though authorities point to isolated incidents such as the 2022 ambush on a rural Queensland property as a reminder of the danger faced by officers on the frontline.

As the manhunt continues, officials stressed that the priority remains locating the suspect, confirming his partner and children’s status, and ensuring the safety of the community.

Source: Full Article BBC