Two police officers tasked with searching a rural property in southern Australia were killed and a third was wounded by a gunman who fled and, according to local media, believed in conspiracy theories, Agence France-Presse reported, quoted by BTA and dariknews.bg.
The police announced that they had begun a large-scale operation to search for the alleged perpetrator of the shooting, which took place in the small town of Porepunkah in the state of Victoria.
Early in the morning, ten police officers went to execute a search warrant. The shooting began minutes after they arrived, killing a 59-year-old police officer and a 35-year-old sergeant, Victoria State Police Commissioner Mike Bush told a news conference. "They engaged the assailant and were killed in cold blood," he said, adding that the officer, who was wounded "in the lower body," was taken to hospital where he underwent surgery. "The suspect in this horrific shooting is still at large," after fleeing on foot, Bush said. "We know this man is heavily armed." "Citizens should stay indoors. This is clearly a very dangerous man who needs to be apprehended." And that's why we have mobilized all the necessary resources to achieve this," he stressed.
The shooter fled alone. His partner and their two children have not yet been found.
According to Australian media, his name is Desi Freeman, 56 years old. He is considered a radicalized person and a supporter of conspiracy theories, expressing hatred for the police.