Six people, including two police officers, were killed in an hour-long standoff in the Australian outback on Monday night.
Four officers from the Tara Police Department arrived at the home in Wieambilla, Queensland, at around 4.45pm to investigate a missing person report. Queensland Police confirmed early tuesday.
Constables Matthew Arnold, 26, and Rachel McCraw, 29, were shot as they approached the location, authorities said. A third officer was injured.
The shooting led to a six-hour standoff, during which the suspects killed a neighbor, Alan Sure, 58, who arrived to investigate the disturbance, authorities said.
The encounter ended with tactical police shooting dead all three suspects, one of whom was identified Nathaniel Train46, the missing person was sent to the police for investigation.
Train, a former school principal, was last seen in New South Wales in December 2021 but had been in contact with his family as recently as last October.
He was killed along with his brother Gareth Train, 47, and sister-in-law Stacey Train, 45.
The incident was the biggest casualty of the Queensland force in several years.
“These officers have no chance. “It’s a miracle the two survived,” Queensland Police Commissioner Katharine Carroll said Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.
Queensland Police Union President Ian Leavers Described to ABC How the uninjured officer, rookie Constable Keeley Brough, bravely fought back when the suspects tried to lure him in by setting him on fire.
“He didn’t know if he was being shot [if] he wanted to burn him alive,’ he said. “He sent messages to his loved ones saying that he had arrived when he thought it was his time.”
A candlelight vigil is planned for Constable Arnold and McCraw in Brisbane.
“To find out [McCrow and Arnold] “The brutal, calculated and targeted executions of our colleagues and loved ones present the very real dangers we face every day doing our jobs,” Leavers said.
“This is such a tragedy. This should never happen. It was completely unexpected.â€
Investigators are currently looking for Gareth Train, who frequently contributes paranoid posts to conspiracy blogs. According to the Guardianhe distrusted the police and believed the 1996 Port Arthur massacre – the mass shooting that led to Australia’s stricter gun laws – was a “false flag operation” or so. covert blaming by one group on another.
He and his wife owned the Wieamilla property. In one of his posts from 2021, he claimed to be building an “arch”.[,] housing for the past five years is preparing to survive tomorrow.’â€
Nathaniel Train has reportedly dropped off the map due to his deteriorating mental health following a heart attack.
“[Weâre] Of course, check out every avenue – be it [was] “Some of the things that are coming online from these people are premeditated,” Commissioner Carroll told ABC. “We will investigate what they have done not only in recent weeks, but in recent years.â€
As the investigation continues, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has expressed his condolences on social media.
“A heartbreaking day for the horrific scenes in Weambilla and the families and friends of Queensland Police officers who have died in the line of duty. he wrote. “My condolences to all who are grieving tonight – Australia mourns with you.â€
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, a former Queensland police officer, also shared his condolences on Twitter.
“Very sad news from west Queensland tonight about police officers killed,” his post read. “Police officers face danger every day to stop us from him.â€
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