Two police officers and passers-by were killed in an ambush in Australia

Two Australian police officers and a bystander have been shot dead in an ambush on a remote property in Queensland. The police responded to a missing person’s report. When the police arrived at the Wimbela site, two men opened fire.

Four police officers were involved in the incident. Two were killed, another was wounded by a bullet while grazing, and a fourth managed to escape, raising the alarm. The third dead man may have been a neighbor who heard the gunfire.

A hunt for the gunmen began. The Queensland Police Commissioner will not provide further details until the perpetrators are arrested. The two are said to have brought police communication equipment with them on their flight, allowing them to know where the police are looking for them.

An emergency order is in effect in the area around Mpela, 275 kilometers west of Brisbane. Residents of the area must stay in their homes until further notice. Others are advised not to enter the area for the time being.

Prime Minister Albanese expressed his condolences to the families of the victims: