Sense of ‘edge in the air’ in Porepunkah
Businesses in the Porepunkah area are remaining closed as the search continues for Freeman in Victoria’s high country.
The venue manager of the Porepunkah Pub, Misty-Rose Wilson, lives on Mount Buffalo Road, which was “locked in and locked down” yesterday evening.
She told ABC Radio Melbourne that she was among many of the pub’s staff who lived in the area and had been unable to leave their homes.
At 6pm last night we received messages as residents letting us know … to lock your doors and stay inside.
Since then we did have another message this morning that was a repeat of last night’s message. That’s basically all the communication we’ve had at this time.
Something like this shocks a town like ours, we’re a really small, tight-knit community so there’s a sense of edge in the air.
The Porepunkah Pub posted to social media, confirming it would follow advice from Victorian police to stay shut tonight.
Our staff have been instructed not to leave their homes, and their safety, along with that of our guests and wider community, remains our top priority.
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Police stations servicing Porepunkah inundated with flowers, cards and messages of support
Wodonga Police has thanked the community for the “overwhelming support” received as the force comes to terms with the deaths of two officers and the serious injury of another.
The Wodonga police posted on social media:
On behalf of everyone at Wodonga Police, we want to sincerely thank our community for the overwhelming support we have received following the tragic events of yesterday. The flowers, cards, and countless messages of kindness and sympathy mean more than words can express.
In such a difficult time, it is deeply comforting to know we are surrounded by a community that stands with us. Your compassion and care are a reminder of the strength we have when we come together.
The Wangaratta police similarly sent a “heartfelt thank you to everyone who has reached out with flowers, cards and messages of support after the tragic events involving our members yesterday”.
This is a very difficult time for our police family here at Wangaratta, but knowing that our community is standing beside us truly means the world. Your kindness, compassion and care are giving us strength as we face the days ahead together.
Wodonga and Wangaratta have the two largest police stations in the area, and both are about an hour’s drive from Porepunkah.
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Police block road leading to property where shooting took place
Police have set up a roadblock on Mt Buffalo Road, not far from central Porepunkah.
I’m here at the roadblock – along with most of the other media. It’s now raining heavily.
We’re about 2 kms away from the start of Rayner Track, the road that leads to the property where the shooting took place.
While Guardian Australia’s photographer, Stuart Walmsley, and I were able to drive right up to the entrance of the property earlier today, police now aren’t letting the media any further down the main road.
The police haven’t provided any further details as to why they have blocked off the road, but we will update you as soon as we learn more.
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Police release image of Dezi Freeman, say suspect last seen running into bush wearing 'dark green' clothing
Victoria Police have released further information as they continue to search for Dezi Freeman.
They say he was last seen running into the bush near a property on Rayner Track in Porepunkah at 10.30am yesterday, wearing “dark green (khaki) tracksuit pants, dark green rain jacket, brown Blundstone boots and reading glasses”.
Police described him as Caucasian, 183cm tall, with a medium build and short dark hair.
They said if anyone sees him or has any further information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000:
We continue to urge the public in and around the township of Porepunkah to remain indoors until further notice.
We also ask people not to travel into the area.
Police said Freeman also goes by Desmond Filby. They released an image of him:
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The minister for police, Anthony Carbines, was also visibly emotional when he made his statement to the lower house. He says:
Every fortnight at the academy, new graduates pass through and they take an oath to serve and protect the community that they’re members of ... It’s very inspiring to see them make that commitment on behalf of all Victorians, and while they’re hurting and their families are hurting, they’re still on duty and working today, tonight, tomorrow and every day.
There have also been updates from other ministers, including local government minister, Nick Staikos. He says the department of government services have been in contact with the Alpine Shire Council, who earlier today issued a plea for government support.
Staikos says:
[The department] will continue to work closely with council over the coming days to identify where additional support is needed, whether for council itself or directly to the community. This is a moment of sadness and shock, but also a time when people across our state come together to support each other.
The education minister, Ben Carroll, says he has personally thanked the Porepunkah primary school principal, Jill Gillies, for helping keep students calm during a lockdown yesterday. Carroll says:
Porepunkah has been around for more than 150 years, it is a close knit community and has a very long term teaching staff of 12. In Jill’s words to me this morning, she said they’re a brilliant bunch of adults. As these horrific events unfolded yesterday, Jill and her staff worked hard to make sure the students under their care were secure and safe. I want to thank Jill and her team for their calmness and their steadfast leadership.
Carroll says the school will be provided with ongoing wellbeing support, including trauma counselling for any students, staff and affected families.
Thanks for sticking with us so far today. Caitlin Cassidy will take over the blog from here. Take care.
Victoria premier praises emergency services working days ‘among toughest our state has known’
The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, has used question time to praise emergency services after the Porepunkah shooting and a fatal school bus crash this morning. She described the past 48 hours as “among the toughest our state has known”.
Allan went on:
In both of these tragedies, our emergency responders have been … at the scene of great heartbreak. They have carried out their duties in dangerous, confronting and deeply difficult conditions. And on behalf of everyone in this place, I want to thank them – Victoria police, paramedics, firefighters, SES workers and volunteers – for the courage, professionalism and great care they have shown through the most trying of circumstances.
She said Victorians were grateful emergency responders continued to work to keep communities safe in “the most difficult, treacherous and dangerous of circumstances”.
Each of us has a responsibility to walk beside them, to wrap our arms around them, to provide every support they need, not just now, for as long as it takes. This is a time of grief. It must also be a time of unity, a time to stand with these families, to stand with these communities, and also to stand with every member of Victoria police and every one of our emergency services.
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More than one metre of snow forecast for Victoria’s alpine areas as manhunt continues
As the search continues in and around Porepunkah, near Mount Buffalo in Victoria’s high country, the weather bureau is forecasting a series of cold fronts could dump up to a metre of snow in the state’s alpine areas between now and Saturday.
A series of cold fronts crossing south eastern Australia in the final week of winter were expected to culminate in flurries of snow across four states, including Victoria’s alpine areas, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
In Victoria, the chilly winds could see the snow level drop to 1,000m on Thursday and down to 600m on Friday.
Subzero temperatures were forecast for alpine areas, which could see up to a metre of snow, between now and Saturday.
The cold fronts could culminate in snowfall in some unusual places. In Victoria, this included the western parts of the Grampians, Macedon Ranges and the Dandenong Ranges in Melbourne’s east.
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Local mechanic describes Freeman as a ‘new age Ned Kelly’
Marty Robinson, who owns the mechanic shop in town, described Freeman as a “new age Ned Kelly” who was “pretty handy in the bush”.
Standing on Porepunkah’s main street, gesturing up at the hills behind him, Robinson said the police “could be up there for weeks looking for” him.
“He doesn’t fit in, and he doesn’t go along with the rules, and he’s an anti-vaxxer. That’s all probably true, but … he’s a family man”, he said.
“I’m not saying he’s a hero or a legend, but he’s someone’s father.”
Robinson said the day felt pretty normal to him and that Porepunkah remained a “sleepy little town”.
“Life goes on. Just checked my mail; no bills, that’s good. I’m servicing a lady’s car. The show goes on,”he said.
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What do Porepunkah locals have to say about the ongoing manhunt?
I’m in Porepunkah with photographer Stuart Walmsley, where we’ve been speaking with locals.
It’s a rainy, grey day, and as you can imagine, most people would have remained indoors even if Victoria police hadn’t sent automated text messages to everyone warning them to stay home due to an “active armed offender in the general area”.
Still, some people have left home to go to work, or ducked out to get a coffee or collect their mail, only to be met by journalists, photographers and camera crews, most of whom have driven up from Melbourne.
Many locals have, understandably, been reluctant to speak to the media.
Everyone we have spoken to who knew Dezi Freeman, who lived on a bush block at the end of a dirt road on the outskirts of town, has said he knew the land very well and that they thought it would be difficult to find him.
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Mayor of local council urges community to ‘continue to look after yourselves and each other’
Sarah Nicholas, the mayor of the Alpine Shire council, which includes Porepunkah, said the community extended its “deepest thanks to all frontline workers – especially Victoria police – for the extraordinary work they are doing to protect and support our community”.
Nicholas told community members on social media they should take reassurance “in the fact that we are receiving the best of the best when it comes to police resourcing and expertise, with support from both state and interstate agencies”, adding:
We know this event has had a significant emotional impact – particularly on our younger community members and their parents and carers, many of whom experienced lockdowns at schools and childcare centres yesterday.
Please continue to look after yourselves and each other. If you or someone you know is struggling, reach out – help is available, and you are not alone.
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Suspect did not own the property where shooting took place
The suspected Porepunkah gunman, Dezi Freeman, did not own the property where the shootings took place.
Guardian Australia has been unable to speak with the owners, a local couple.
It is unclear if the couple had been living on the property with Freeman and his family, but they were not there at the time of the shootings.
Attempts to contact the owners via social media and family members have been unsuccessful. Property records show that they sold a separate property in a nearby regional town earlier this year.
The couple had operated a business selling chestnuts and appeared at local farmers’ markets.
A man who also claimed to live at the property had parked his car over the driveway on Wednesday, preventing access beyond the front gate.
The car had a note on the dashboard that read “left car here to prevent reporters to access private land. I live here” and included a phone number.
The man declined to comment, but when asked if he had spoken to the owners of the property, he responded that “everything was under control”.
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Aircraft banned from flying above Porepunkah
No aircraft will be allowed to fly around Porepunkah after the Australian Transport Safety Bureau granted the area “Temporary Restricted Airspace”.
Victoria police said the no-fly zone, which includes all aircraft and drones, was within a 4 nautical mile (about 7.5km) radius of 6619 Great Alpine Road, Porepunkah (Feathertop Winery) and would be in place until at least 11.30pm on Friday.
Police said:
Given the suspect in this matter is heavily armed, this condition has been granted due to the risk to aircraft and drones, as well as potential implications associated with the suspect tracking police movements based off media coverage.
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AFP issued warning that sovereign citizen movements could ‘inspire violence’ in 2022
The Australian federal police warned violent sovereign citizens could become an enduring part of the “threat landscape” in an unclassified 2022 briefing released under freedom of information laws.
The suspected Porepunkah gunman, Dezi Freeman, has been described as a sovereign citizen.
Like many others within the movement, he appeared to become radicalised during the early years of the pandemic, railing against lockdowns and vaccine mandates, which were seen as reinforcing his conspiratorial beliefs about governments.
The AFP, in a briefing released under freedom of information laws in 2023, said it remained to be seen how the end of the pandemic would shift the behaviour of this group.
Stephen Dametto, the acting assistant commissioner of counter-terrorism and special investigations, wrote in the presentation:
What we’ve learned is while these groups present and behave very differently to other extremist groups, there is an underlying capacity to inspire violence.
As COVID-based restrictions and mandates begin dissipating around the country, time will tell whether we see these movements fade into obscurity or whether they become a more enduring fixture of the threat landscape in Australia.
Dametto also stated in the briefing that:
SovCits see violence as a last resort or only necessary in the form of ‘self-defence’ against a tyrannical government. This however, does not mean that these groups can’t be dangerous.
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Some photos from Porepunkah
A massive police operation is under way in the small town of Porepunkah, home to about 1,000 people. Guardian Australia has a photographer on the ground as the man hunt continues.
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Support from colleagues ‘the best medicine’ for injured officer, head of police association says
Wayne Gatt, the head of the Victoria Police Association, said he spoke to the officer who was seriously injured yesterday. Gatt told RN Breakfast earlier the man was “clearly devastated” by the events, and had to deal with his own recovery while mourning the loss of his colleagues:
I can only imagine how he’s feeling. He’s having to deal with that at the same time as dealing with his physical injuries, which I know he received some treatment for yesterday. And I just hope that his continued recovery is faster.
I know some of his colleagues have had some messages from him this morning, which is great. It’s great to see because the best medicine is the support of your colleagues. It works for us. I don’t know, it might be a police thing … but it does work for us knowing that the policing community is supporting you.
And I’m sure that will be, in no small dose, something that he’s drawing heavily on.
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Local lawyers pay tribute to senior officer killed at Porepunkah
Legal sources have told Guardian Australia that the senior officer who was killed, a 59-year-old detective, was particularly well regarded in the region for his kindness and fairness.
“He was just a lovely bloke, it’s a tragedy,” one lawyer said.
He was so close to retiring, he’d booked tickets for an overseas holiday and everything. Awful stuff.
The same lawyer had regularly seen Dezi Freeman around the Wangaratta courts, though never represented him or dealt with him. Freeman often represented himself in court.
“He was certainly a frequent flyer, that’s for sure,” the lawyer said.
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Victoria police commissioner Mike Bush addresses media amid search for Porepunkah shooting suspect – video
Police have a “wide cordon” set up as part of a “very wide search area” for Dezi Freeman, Victoria police chief commissioner, Mike Bush, told reporters on Wednesday morning. “We are pouring every resource into this search for this person.”
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Head of Victoria police association says members ‘enormously sad’ after death of colleagues
Wayne Gatt, secretary of the Victoria Police Association, said earlier this morning the group’s members were all “enormously sad” after yesterday’s events at Porepunkah.
Gatt told RN Breakfast:
I mean, I don’t know if there’s an easier way to describe it. They’re all people underneath that uniform, and they’re just enormously sad …
Hundreds of them are having to suppress the way they’re feeling emotionally as they turn up to work and really get on with this dangerous, but so important, job of holding this offender to account.
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Albanese says government takes threat of sovereign citizen ideology seriously
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said the federal government takes seriously the threat of ideologies like sovereign citizenship. He was asked about the government’s consideration of fringe movements on ABC Radio Melbourne this morning:
Mike Burgess, the director general of Asio, has been warning about far-right extremism. We have seen that spread and it is difficult to defend against individuals.
We know that that is the case, that this person, Dezi Freeman, who remains on the run is the latest advice that we have received, has [allegedly] engaged in an attack in which two police officers have lost their lives, a third has been seriously injured.
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Officers were on site to execute warrant related to Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation teams
Bush said earlier the 10 officers who attended Freeman’s property were there to execute a warrant related to the Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation teams, known as Socit.
He told reporters:
So the team that went there were local officers and members of the sexual offences and child investigation team. I’m not going to go into any further detail, because there are victims involved in the matter and it would be very unfair and unwise for me to talk about that any further.
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Injured officer will recover, but has ‘significant’ injuries
Bush said he hopes to visit the officer injured in the shooting yesterday, saying he believes they are out of surgery but “significantly damaged”.
He said the officer will recover, but more information on their condition will come later.
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Freeman ‘understands bushcraft well’, police commissioner says
Bush said police believe Freeman is thought to understand “bushcraft well”, presenting a challenge for those searching for him:
Our understanding of him is he understands bushcraft well, which provides a challenge for us. But we keep an absolutely open mind on what options are open to him. And those options will inform our approach.
Authorities conducting a manhunt overnight did so in difficult weather conditions. But Bush said the team was “absolutely determined and focused on finding this person.”
They are oblivious to those conditions when they have a mission.
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Freeman thought to have ‘multiple firearms’
Bush said police believe Freeman has many weapons with him:
Long arms, powerful firearms, multiple firearms. We haven’t recovered any of his firearms from the scene.
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Police have ‘wide cordon’ set up as part of ‘very wide search area’
Bush said the best experts in the country are doing “everything” they can to find Freeman. Authorities have not had any confirmed sightings of him since yesterday’s events.
We have all the assets in play. We have not had any confirmed site sightings of him at the moment … Anything is possible. He knows that area, even though we have experts in the area, he will know that area better than us. So, that’s why we’re putting in every expert and supported by local knowledge as well.
Bush added Victoria police had spoken with their counterparts in NSW, who are on standby if needed.
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Dezi Freeman ‘heavily armed’ and still at large, Victoria police say
The chief commissioner of Victoria police, Mike Bush, said Freeman, 56, is “heavily armed” and still at large. Bush said a “large team” were “absolutely focused” on finding the suspect:
We are pouring every resource into this search for this person, we must find him … The hunt will continue until we find him.
Bush said there was no hostage situation.
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Porepunkah shooting suspect Dezi Freeman called police ‘terrorist thugs’ and tried to arrest magistrate, court records reveal
Dezi Freeman, the man suspected of shooting and killing two police officers and injuring a third at a rural Victorian property, has previously called police “terrorist thugs” and has a history of association with pseudolaw and “sovereign citizen” ideas.
Court records show Freeman has previously described police as “frigging Nazis”, “Gestapo” and “terrorist thugs”. He also once attempted to arrest a magistrate during a bizarre court hearing in Wangaratta.
Last year, a Victorian county court judge found Freeman was guilty of using a mobile phone while driving and refusing to provide a saliva sample to police in September 2020 on the Great Alpine Road.
But he lodged a legal battle after the judge cancelled Freeman’s licence and disqualified him from obtaining a licence for a period of two years from 8 April 2024.
Read more:
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Federal MP for Porepunkah area says extreme ideologies ‘have no place in Australia’
Federal MP Helen Haines, the local member for Indi, which covers the Porepunkah area, said her community is “completely shocked and devastated” after yesterday’s events. Haines told ABC News:
There is so much grief and disbelief and frankly horror at what has unfolded in Porepunkah …
I think the Victorian government are doing everything they can and I know that the Victoria police and emergency services are throwing every resource at this issue to find and apprehend this offender. I can’t ask for more than that, and right now that is the priority.
Haines said it was still an active event and while police would take time to understand the motivation behind the shooting, extreme ideologies had “no place in Australia”.
The law of this land applies to everyone, irrespective of what ideology a person may or may not subscribe to. We were warned last year around the rise of various ideologies and the real risk it poses to civil society. But in this case, again we have an active event happening right now in Porepunkah with police and emergency services trying to apprehend this offender.
And until this person is brought in, we won’t know exactly what has motivated this person. But whichever way you look at it, extreme ideologies have no place in Australia.
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Police to address media in Melbourne
Victoria police are set to hold a media conference on the latest information out of Porepunkah in a few minutes, at 8.30am. We’ll carry the latest updates as they come through.
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Sussan Ley pays tribute to slain Porepunkah police officers
The opposition leader, Sussan Ley, has paid tribute to two police officers killed at Porepunkah yesterday. She called the shooting “a heartbreaking tragedy that has touched every Australian”.
“These officers gave their lives protecting their community, and our nation grieves deeply with their families, friends and colleagues. This loss is a solemn reminder of the dangers police face each day and the extraordinary courage it takes to serve,” Ley said in a statement.
To every officer who wears the uniform, you carry our respect and our gratitude.
Ley also spoke of the detective who was left injured, and other police responding to the incident in the rural Victorian town.
In this moment of profound sadness, Australians stand shoulder to shoulder with Victoria Police. We will honour those who have fallen and never take for granted the courage and service that keeps our communities safe.
AFP and Asio assisting with investigation, says home affairs minister
The home affairs minister, Tony Burke, said this morning that both the Australian federal police and Asio are assisting with the investigation in Porepunkah.
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Andrew Hastie says society has seen a ‘breakdown in trust’ in governments since pandemic
The shadow home affairs minister, Andrew Hastie, was asked on RN Breakfast about the concern surrounding fringe ideologies spreading through society. He said those ideas spark a real concern:
I think since Covid, we’ve seen a breakdown in trust for governments, whether it be state or national governments. And so we have to work extra hard to win the trust of those we represent.
There is no excuse ever for violence in this country, particularly of the sort that we saw yesterday, which claimed the lives of two police officers. …
I think social cohesion is more frayed than ever. There’s more misinformation and disinformation out there. A lot of people went down the rabbit hole during Covid and they never came back up.
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Porepunkah primary school to remain closed today
The local primary school in Porepunkah will not open today on the advice of Victoria police, Allan said earlier:
The advice is that the request for the community to continue to remain indoors. The advice I have is the school, the primary school will not be open today as well. And this is all based on the advice of Victoria police and I urge everyone in the community to follow that advice.
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Victoria premier says ‘a lot of people feeling a deep grief today’
The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, just spoke to ABC News, saying “every resource” was currently devoted to the manhunt, but said it has been a difficult few days for the community in Porepunkah.
She said:
While we wait for further details to come from Victoria police, we put our arms around the Victoria police family. A lot of people are feeling deep grief today and they’re also going to work today to keep our communities safe. So it’s been … it was an incredibly tragic day yesterday and it continues to be a tough one today …
What happened yesterday was a tragedy. But also a hideous crime that was perpetrated on those who go to work every day to keep us safe. And that makes it even more awful and horrific.
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Good morning
The suspect behind the shooting of three police officers, two of whom are dead, in Porepunkah, Victoria, is still on the run. Police said the man’s family, including his partner and his children, attended a local police station last night, but the man’s whereabouts remain unknown as a massive search continues today.
The town of Porepunkah is about 300km north-east of Melbourne and police are combing dense bushland as part of their search. But residents of the town and surrounding areas are being urged to remain indoors until further notice.
We’ll bring you more updates as the day moves along.
