Two Australian police officers were shot dead and one injured in an ambush in the small rural town of Porepunkah, Victoria, as hundreds of officers were deployed to the scene. The victim, identified by Australian media as Dezi Freeman, a “heavily armed” individual believed to be on his own at the time of the shooting.
Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush described the incident as an “active incident,” stating that 10 officers attended a house to serve an arrest warrant for historical sex offenses. Two colleagues – a 59-year-old detective and a 35-year-old senior constable – were killed, while a third officer was shot in the lower body.
Bush urged Freeman to give himself up, saying his priority is to arrest him and bring safety and security to the community. The police chief warned that all available resources are being used in the hunt for Freeman, who is considered “dangerous.”
Freeman has been linked to extremist groups, including sovereign citizens, who believe they are not subject to Australian laws and government authority. He was previously arrested in 2021 for attempting to privately prosecute then-Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews for treason and fraud.
The incident has raised concerns about the resurgence of sovereign citizen ideology, which authorities have warned can inspire violence. Australia’s strict gun regulations make ambush attacks rare, but similarities are being drawn with a similar incident in 2022 when two police officers were killed at a rural property in Queensland.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckge4555vpxo