Australian News :
A police IT worker has been “callously murdered” and his killer shot dead as officers returned fire outside the force’s headquarters in Sydney’s west, NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione has confirmed.
Andrew Scipione said the victim was “simply leaving work.” Picture: Jonathan Ng
The identity of the lone gunman and his motive have not been established, Mr Scipione said at the scene of the shootings in Parramatta on Friday evening.
He said the civilian police employee was shot at close range with a handgun as he left the building for the day.
“I can tell you that this was a brutal crime, a terrible crime,” he said. Mr Scipione said the IT specialist was “simply leaving work” at the State Crime Command on Charles Street about 4.30pm when he was deliberately targeted and killed.
Three other officers then came under fire. Witnesses reported seeing a man in a black gown pacing, yelling and wielding a gun outside the police centre moments before a series of shots were heard.
Real estate agent Edwin Almeida said he later saw two bodies on the pavement.
He said one belonged to the man in the black gown and lay in a pool of blood.
Mr Scipione said there was nothing to suggest the shooting was terror-related but he refused to rule anything out as investigations continued. He said it was likely the gunman waited around after the murder in order to “commit suicide by cop”.
A massive police operation is under way in Parramatta in Sydney’s west after two people were shot dead outside NSW Police Force headquarters. The operation began about 4.30pm yesterday and police are advising people to avoid Charles Street and Hassall Street as a 2km exclusion zone has been set up.
The Daily Telegraph reports that police had warning of the attack through intelligence sources and one victim of the shooting “was a public servant working for NSW Police.”
“He was shot before (the) shooter was killed,” they report. It is then believed “the gunman was shot by NSW Special Constables.” The shooter, “believed to be of Middle Eastern appearance and dressed in black”, according to The Daily Telegraph, “launched an attack from the street, peppering the front of the building with bullets.”
“He shot a police IT expert before being gunned by special constables who guard the entrance,” they report.
Police said a critical incident investigation had been launched following the deaths of two people.
“The incident occurred outside the NSW Police headquarters building on Charles Street about 4.30pm today after a number of shots were fired,” the service said in a statement.
“It appears an officer has discharged his weapon, responding to a report that a person had been shot.
“Two people have died at the scene.” It said officers were still to establish the identity of those killed.
Goodstart Early Learning centre staff member Ashmi Golwala said she heard at least three “loud sounds”.
“They sounded like crackers and I went outside to see what was happening and a police lady told me to stay inside,” she told The Australian. Real estate agent Edwin Almeida says he heard shots and saw a man in a black gown pacing and waving a gun outside the police headquarters. Mr Almeida said his frightened staff ran into their office and heard three to four gun shots.
“We looked out the window, saw security guards and what appeared to be a plain clothes police officer with gun drawn and pointing at the person that was now lying on the floor surrounded by a pool of blood.”
Mr Almeida filmed part of the attack (see video above) and later described it to friends.
“There was blood everywhere … after the security and detectives fired on him,” he posted on Facebook.
“Staff being escorted to railway station by police. Great support from NSW police. These guys are bloody awesome.” Some reports suggested the attack was a drive-by shooting, but Mr Almeida disputed this.
“This guy was not driving that’s for sure. He didn’t appear to be wanting to get away,” he said.
A police IT worker has been “callously murdered” and his killer shot dead as officers returned fire outside the force’s headquarters in Sydney’s west, NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione has confirmed.
Andrew Scipione said the victim was “simply leaving work.” Picture: Jonathan Ng
The identity of the lone gunman and his motive have not been established, Mr Scipione said at the scene of the shootings in Parramatta on Friday evening.
He said the civilian police employee was shot at close range with a handgun as he left the building for the day.
“I can tell you that this was a brutal crime, a terrible crime,” he said. Mr Scipione said the IT specialist was “simply leaving work” at the State Crime Command on Charles Street about 4.30pm when he was deliberately targeted and killed.
Three other officers then came under fire. Witnesses reported seeing a man in a black gown pacing, yelling and wielding a gun outside the police centre moments before a series of shots were heard.
Real estate agent Edwin Almeida said he later saw two bodies on the pavement.
He said one belonged to the man in the black gown and lay in a pool of blood.
Mr Scipione said there was nothing to suggest the shooting was terror-related but he refused to rule anything out as investigations continued. He said it was likely the gunman waited around after the murder in order to “commit suicide by cop”.
A massive police operation is under way in Parramatta in Sydney’s west after two people were shot dead outside NSW Police Force headquarters. The operation began about 4.30pm yesterday and police are advising people to avoid Charles Street and Hassall Street as a 2km exclusion zone has been set up.
The Daily Telegraph reports that police had warning of the attack through intelligence sources and one victim of the shooting “was a public servant working for NSW Police.”
“He was shot before (the) shooter was killed,” they report. It is then believed “the gunman was shot by NSW Special Constables.” The shooter, “believed to be of Middle Eastern appearance and dressed in black”, according to The Daily Telegraph, “launched an attack from the street, peppering the front of the building with bullets.”
“He shot a police IT expert before being gunned by special constables who guard the entrance,” they report.
Police said a critical incident investigation had been launched following the deaths of two people.
“The incident occurred outside the NSW Police headquarters building on Charles Street about 4.30pm today after a number of shots were fired,” the service said in a statement.
“It appears an officer has discharged his weapon, responding to a report that a person had been shot.
“Two people have died at the scene.” It said officers were still to establish the identity of those killed.
Goodstart Early Learning centre staff member Ashmi Golwala said she heard at least three “loud sounds”.
“They sounded like crackers and I went outside to see what was happening and a police lady told me to stay inside,” she told The Australian. Real estate agent Edwin Almeida says he heard shots and saw a man in a black gown pacing and waving a gun outside the police headquarters. Mr Almeida said his frightened staff ran into their office and heard three to four gun shots.
“We looked out the window, saw security guards and what appeared to be a plain clothes police officer with gun drawn and pointing at the person that was now lying on the floor surrounded by a pool of blood.”
Mr Almeida filmed part of the attack (see video above) and later described it to friends.
“There was blood everywhere … after the security and detectives fired on him,” he posted on Facebook.
“Staff being escorted to railway station by police. Great support from NSW police. These guys are bloody awesome.” Some reports suggested the attack was a drive-by shooting, but Mr Almeida disputed this.
“This guy was not driving that’s for sure. He didn’t appear to be wanting to get away,” he said.
