A primary school has been closed as police declare an emergency situation after gunshots were heard in the area.
Emergency services were called to a property on Collin Avenue in Edge Hill, Cairns, around 1pm on Thursday, where they located a two-vehicle collision.
Police believe one person shot another before fleeing on foot, prompting an emergency situation that will be enforced at 2 p.m.
Locals have been urged to avoid the area or “stay inside with doors and windows closed.”
Edge Hill State School, just hundreds of meters away, was placed on lockdown shortly afterwards when parents received a text message assuring that “all our students and staff are safe and well”.
A state school was closed and an exclusion zone established after reports of gunfire on Edge Hill in Cairns on Thursday afternoon (pictured)
The students spent about an hour locked up at Edge Hill State School (pictured) before their parents were able to pick them up around 3 p.m.
Parents were allowed to pick up their children on Pease Street about an hour later, after the closure was eased.
A heavy police presence remains at the scene, including the Special Emergency Response Team (SERT).
A 500m exclusion zone remains in place around the site and all roads leading to Collin Avenue are now blocked by police vehicles.
The situation continues.
More to come.
