Two Australian police officers and a bystander were shot dead on Monday in an ambush on a remote property in the state of Queensland as officers were investigating reports of a missing person, police said.
At least two gunmen reportedly opened fire when police arrived at the rural Wieambilla property.
Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll confirmed the three deaths at a news conference. She did not provide further details saying the search for the gunmen was still ongoing.
He said four officers arrived at the property, two were killed along with a member of the public, one was grazed by a bullet and another escaped.
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The gunmen remained on the run and were said to have taken police communications equipment, allowing them to track police movements as the search continued.
A police emergency declaration for the Wieambilla area remained in effect Monday evening, where residents were told to stay indoors until further notice.
Specialized policemen have also been deployed.
A skyline in Queensland, Australia. A shooting in Queensland claimed the lives of two police officers and a bystander over the weekend. Police have warned citizens in the area to stay inside.
(Peter Adams/Avalon/Universal Images Group via Getty Images))
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described “terrible scenes at Wieambilla and a heartbreaking day for the families and friends of Queensland Police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty”.
“My condolences to all who mourn tonight – Australia mourns with you,” Albanese wrote on Twitter.
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The area is sparsely populated and has several large estates and gas fields.
