A convoy of police cars has converged on a property in rural Victoria amid concerns someone is firing shots.
Up to a dozen police cars have been spotted parked alongside a paddock in Dumbalk North, in the state’s southeast, in what has been described as an ‘ongoing situation’.
Early reports suggest Victorian police officers have become embroiled in a siege, with an active gunman allegedly at the rural property.
Worried locals have taken to social media to warn others passing through the area, which is about 160kms south-east of Melbourne‘s CBD in Victoria’s Gippsland region.
Police converge on the rural property where a siege is believed to be in progress
A Victoria Police spokesperson said officers were currently at a property in Dumbalk North as part of an ‘ongoing investigation’.
‘We have reports that shots have been fired. Due to the dynamic nature of the incident, we will provide further information when we can,’ a spokeswoman said.
‘No police members have been injured.’
The small town is believed to house less than 100 people.
It is understood trouble at the property kicked-off about 1.30pm on Thursday, with police rushing to the scene.
‘There’s a gunman on the loose stay clear,’ one local warned.
‘We were waiting for the kids and an ambulance with lights and a police car following heading back towards gatha,’ another wrote.
Police are in the process of dealing with a suspected gunman in country Victoria
One local warned Milford Road and Foster Mirboo Roads were closed due to the ongoing drama.
Farmers Road Dumbalk has also been closed at Meeniyan-Mirboo North Road, with no traffic being allowed past.
Others reported seeing the police chopper headed to the scene.
‘When l was coming back from leongatha 2 x paramedic cars with lights & all heading that way,’ another witness claimed.
Gareth Train, his wife Stacey and his brother Nathaniel were fatally shot in this Queensland property after ambushing police
Constable Matthew Arnold (left, top and bottom) and Constable Rachel McCrow (right, top and bottom) were killed in a Queensland ambush
The incident has rekindled memories of a shocking attack on police in Queensland which saw two police officers shot dead in an ambush at a remote rural property.
Constables Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow were killed after arriving with two other officers at the Wieambilla property, west of Brisbane, in December 2022 attempting to serve an arrest warrant for Nathaniel Train.
Six hours later, Gareth Train, his wife Stacey and his brother Nathaniel were fatally shot by police Special Emergency Response Team members.
Unknowingly, the officers had walked into an elaborately staged trap where they, along with two other officers – Constables Keely Brough and Randall Kirk – were met with gunfire.
Images of the hide out displayed in court showed an elaborate set up hidden among tree debris which featured a large tent, dumbbells, a copy of the book ‘The Godfather’ and a chair with sawn-off legs that allowed the shooter to have a direct line of vision through the cutout to allow them to see anyone who approached the front gate.
More to come.
