A convoy of police cars has converged on a property in rural Victoria amid concerns someone is shooting.
Up to a dozen police cars have been seen parked next to a meadow in Dumbalk North, in the state’s south east, in what has been described as an “ongoing situation”.
Early reports suggest Victorian police officers have been embroiled in a siege, with a gunman allegedly active on the rural property.
Concerned locals have taken to social media to warn others passing through the area, which is about 160 kilometers southeast of Melbourne’s CBD in Victoria’s Gippsland region.
Police are in the process of dealing with a suspected gunman
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 more information when we can,” a spokeswoman said.
“No police have been injured.”
The small town is believed to be home to fewer than 100 people.
It is understood that trouble at the property began around 1.30pm on Thursday, and police were called to the scene.
“There’s a gunman on the loose, stay away,” warned a local.
“We were waiting for the children and an ambulance with lights and a police car following them back to Gatha,” wrote another.
A local warned that 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 allowed to pass.
Others reported seeing the police helicopter heading to the scene.
“When I was coming back from Leongatha, there were two paramedic cars with lights and they were all heading in that direction,” another witness said.
The incident has revived memories of a shocking attack on police in Queensland in which two police officers were shot dead in an ambush.
Constables Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow died after arriving with two other officers at the Wieambilla estate, west of Brisbane, in December 2022 attempting to serve an arrest warrant against Nathaniel Train.
Six hours later, Gareth Train, his wife Stacey and his brother Nathaniel were shot dead by members of the police Special Emergency Response Team.
More to come.
