AUSTRALIA: Gun wielding hostage taker shot dead by cops

A man who took a woman hostage in the city of Melbourne before engaging three police officers in a gun duel has been shot dead following a stand-off with cops which lasted for over an hour according to reports.

The officers were shot after the stand-off at an apartment building in the upmarket beach side suburb of Brighton, police said, adding that a second man had earlier been found dead from a gunshot wound.

Read also: Saudi, Bahrain, UAE, Egypt cut ties with Qatar over hacking dispute

Victoria state police went to the building and tried to negotiate with a man inside after a woman called emergency services saying she was being held hostage, deputy commissioner Andrew Crisp told reporters.

After negotiations failed, the man emerged and began shooting at police, injuring three officers before he was shot dead.

“Terrorism is one line of inquiry,” Crisp said, adding that counter-terrorism police and the police crime unit were investigating.

Police operatives are now checking the attack for links to militant activity with a report of a telephone call to a television station’s newsroom saying the incident was related to Islamic State.

 

 

RipplesNigeria ….without borders, without fears

Click here to download the Ripples Nigeria App for latest updates

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now