Sydney, Dec. 13 (BNA): Six people, including two police officers, were killed in a gun battle at a remote property in the Australian state of Queensland, authorities said Tuesday, after police visited the scene to investigate reports of a missing person.
Queensland State Police said in a statement that preliminary information indicated that the two officers were shot and killed by two armed offenders on Monday evening when they approached the residence located in the Weyampela district, about 300 kilometers northwest of Brisbane, the capital of Queensland.
Police said that after specialized officers and air support responded to the state of siege in the property, three offenders, including a woman, were shot dead.
A member of the public was also killed while two other police officers were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to Reuters.
Local media reported that officers visited the property after a missing person was filed in New South Wales for the Nathaniel Train.
They also reported that Nathaniel Train, a 46-year-old former NSW schoolmaster, his brother Gareth Train and an unidentified woman were shot dead by police. The police did not officially reveal the identities of the armed criminals.
Police named the two police officers killed as Constable Matthew Arnold, 26, and Constable Rachel Macrow, 29.
Premier Anthony Albanese described the incident as “a terrible and heartbreaking day for the families and friends of the Queensland Police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty”.
“My condolences to all who mourned tonight – Australia mourns with you,” Albanese said in a tweet.
Queensland Police Commissioner Katharina Carroll said the shooting was the largest loss of life the state police have suffered in a single incident in recent times.
Carroll said the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the deaths, would be investigated.
EAE