SYDNEY AIRPORT: Gun fired in T2, lock down after Police arrest. No injuries reported
An intense scene unfolded this morning around 6am, Wednesday 13 August at Sydney Airport’s Terminal 2 (T2). A man was arrested adjacent to gate 49, metres away from the busy food court.
The man had attempted to grab a firearm from an Australian Federal Police (AFP) officer. The incident briefly triggered a security lockdown, but no injuries were reported, and operations continued with minimal disruption.
Here is one of the first reports from radio station 2GB with some associated footage:
Content of this Post:
What Happened?
Shortly before 6 a.m., AFP officers were asked to assist airline staff reporting a man acting suspiciously within the T2 terminal. When approached, it is alleged the man became “verbally and physically aggressive”, which prompted the officers to initiate an arrest according to a statement issued by the AFP. According to other bystanders he tried to seize an AFP officer’s firearm.
The T2 terminal is primarily used by Jetstar and Virgin Australia flights.
During the struggle, the weapon was unintentionally discharged. It is not clear whether this was by an AFP officer or someone else. There are no reports of anyone being harmed. The man was quickly restrained and arrested, and normal airport operations resumed soon after.
According to unconfirmed reports from a witness, Barrister William John Wilcher, a former policeman, a large (AFP) rifle was wedged underneath the man. The butt of the rifle was visible on one side, under the man, with the barrel point out the other side.
Fortunately, the rifle when it discharged was not pointing at any of the AFP officers, the two members of the public assisting or the arrested man. Given the business of the terminal at that time of the morning, it is a matter of luck that no one else was injured.
AFP and Airport Response
The AFP have confirmed the firearm discharge was accidental. They affirmed that there was no ongoing threat to public safety.
A crime scene was established, but the terminal was not officially in lockdown, despite a number of Jetstar employees being locked down in a secure room. All flights proceeded as scheduled.
The man was taken into custody and transferred to Mascot police station as part of an ongoing investigation.
2PAXfly Takeout
This incident ended well. It could have easily turned out quite differently.
Undoubtedly, there will be an investigation. The question is obviously how the AFP officer’s gun ended up under the person arrested, and who or what caused the discharge?
All’s well that ends well, as Shakespeare says, I suppose.
What did you say?