lappiemum Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 (edited) All is now reopened, but the guy is still on the lose - latest story see http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/police-h...tml?autostart=1 ************************************************************ ************************************** Happening now - train and road closures, people are advised to stay in their offices From the Age online - http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/police-h...00621-ypz8.html Police hunt gunman at Melbourne Park MEGAN LEVY June 21, 2010 - 10:28AM Police have locked down the Melbourne Park sports precinct and are searching for a gunman believed to be holed up in the area following a high-speed pursuit east in the city’s east this morning. Heavily-armed police wearing bulletproof vests have been seen entering the precinct and motorists are being turned away from the area, home to Rod Laver Arena and the MCG. Those working in the precinct have been told to stay inside. A Victoria Police spokeswoman said officers were searching for a man believed to be armed with a gun. The spokeswoman could not confirm a report that a man had earlier fired at police in the Box Hill area. The drama follows a police chase earlier this morning, in which a police car and another vehicle were were rammed on the Monash Freeway. Witnesses said a blue Holden Commodore was travelling at up to 130km/h on the city-bound lanes of the Monash Freeway near the entrance to the Burnley Tunnel about 9.45am. Callers to Radio 3AW said a vehicle had sped from the scene and was being chased by up to 10 marked and unmarked police vehicles. Ambulance Victoria spokesman Paul Bentley said paramedics were called to the incident. Victoria Police has been contacted for comment. Police have sealed off Olympic Boulevard, Batman Avenue, Brunton Road and Punt Road. A Metro spokesman said all train services between Richmond and Flinders Street stations had been suspended. Significant delays are expected on services travelling to and from Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, with reports of trains in the City Loop being stopped and passengers told the service would not be continuing. Edited June 21, 2010 by lappiemum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dame Aussie Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 Jesus Nice world we live in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lappiemum Posted June 21, 2010 Author Share Posted June 21, 2010 hopefully no-one has been injured. he's done well to have closed down flinders st station and that part of the CBD - its going to be a nightmare on the lines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stef_83 Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 thats a bit scary........ bring back few memories for ppl the last time there was a gunman in the city on burke street. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OSoSwift Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 Oh goodness. I sincerely hope no-one has been injured and he is caught soon. Please be careful all Melbourneites Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lappiemum Posted June 21, 2010 Author Share Posted June 21, 2010 (edited) Age website has just been updated - this is the latest Police hunt gunman at Melbourne Park MEGAN LEVY June 21, 2010 - 11:01AM Police have locked down the Melbourne Park sports precinct and are searching for a gunman holed up in the area following a high-speed pursuit in the city's east this morning. Heavily-armed police wearing bullet proof vests have saturated the precinct and motorists are being turned away from the area, home to Rod Laver Arena and the MCG. A building site has been shut down, with up to 100 construction workers confined to their site shed, while others in the area have been urged to stay inside and lock their doors. Unconfirmed reports have also said players from the Melbourne Demons AFL team were in the precinct and had been advised to remain indoors. A Victoria Police spokeswoman said officers were searching for a man believed to be armed with a gun, however she could not confirm a report that a man had earlier fired at police in the Box Hill area. The gunman is described as being in his mid 20s, of Spanish appearance with straight dark hair. He is wearing a dark jacket, a red or orange t-shirt and silver tracksuit pants. ''The public are urged not to approach the man and instead contact triple-zero should they sight him,'' the spokeswoman said. Police believe that the man may have fled over a footbridge from the Hisense Arena and run around the perimeter of the MCG towards the Richmond area. The drama follows a police chase earlier this morning, in which a police car and another vehicle were were rammed on the Monash Freeway. Witnesses described seeing a blue VZ SS Holden Commodore travelling at up to 130km/h on the city-bound lanes of the Monash Freeway before the entrance to the Burnley Tunnel about 9.45am. An unmarked police station wagon was rammed in the chase, as well as a Mitsubishi outlander 4WD. Both vehicle were badly damaged. Witnesses said the Commodore sped from the scene and was being chased by up to 10 marked and unmarked police vehicles before the vehicle entered the sports precinct. A delivery driver who arrived at the MCG was told to stay in his vehicle. ''[Police] are everywhere,'' the driver told Radio 3AW. ''Up Punt Road and down Brunton Avenue.'' A Metro spokesman said all train services between Richmond and Flinders Street stations had been suspended. Significant delays are expected on services travelling to and from Melbourne's eastern suburbs, with reports of trains in the City Loop being stopped and passengers being told the service would not be continuing. edited to add - I just heard sirens on clarendon street heading for the city. Edited June 21, 2010 by lappiemum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indigirl Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 Im so glad I live out in the stix, nothing like that ever happens here. The joys of living in a big city. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogdayz Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 that explains all the sirens around here this morning (Richmond) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perrin Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 My niece is stuck in the city cause the trains have stopped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpikesPuppy Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 Eep. Wonder how mum went getting into the city today??? Stay safe everyone in that area!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 Hope the Police stay safe and unharmed too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bindii Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 Im so glad I live out in the stix, nothing like that ever happens here. The joys of living in a big city. I live in almost what could be referred to as the stix (well maybe not these days, the city is spreading) and a lady was stabbed and set alight by her partner at a petrol station two weeks ago about 10 minutes from where I live. There are mad people everywhere... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverHaze Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 Geez...and my train was going past there just before 10... Good thing i'm at the other end of the city... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lappiemum Posted June 21, 2010 Author Share Posted June 21, 2010 (edited) Latest news is that the lines and roads have all been reopened, police have found a firearm but they haven't got the guy yet. Apparently the firearm has been discharged at some point, but they are not saying when and where. There is a pic of the suspect and his photo on the Ageonline site - see http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/police-h...tml?autostart=1 Latest report from the Age online: Police hunt gunman at Melbourne Park MEGAN LEVY AND PAUL MILLAR June 21, 2010 - 1:06PM A firearm has been found in the vicinity of Rod Laver Arena following this morning's search for a gunman in the Melbourne Park sports precinct. Police are still hunting for a gunman who led officers on a dramatic high-speed pursuit through Melbourne’s east this morning before fleeing into the precinct. Heavily-armed police wearing bulletproof vests this morning locked down the area - home to Rod Laver Arena and the MCG - and warned workers and sports teams to stay indoors. The man, aged in his mid 20s, is carrying a shotgun and is believed to have already fired a number of shots during an armed robbery at a service station in Bulleen about 3am today, Superintendent Rod Wilson said. The gunman is also believed to have robbed a home in Balwyn and stolen a number of vehicles in the crime spree, before police pursued him along the Monash Freeway into the city about 9.40am. Witnesses said the gunman reached speeds of up to 130km/h in a stolen car on the freeway and hit up to four vehicles, including a police car, before driving into the sports precinct. He is believed to have ditched his vehicle and fled over a footbridge from the Hisense Arena, before running around the perimeter of the MCG towards the Richmond area. Superintendent Wilson said the man, who was known to police, was dangerous and was last seen still carrying the gun. "He is armed and violent and under no circumstances should be approached," he said. "He has a history of violence, and witnesses last saw him running over the footbridge (towards the MCG] with a jacket and a shotgun." Players from both the Melbourne Demons AFL team, which was having its first official training day at the new AAMI Park facility, and the Melbourne Victory A-League team were caught up in the incident, with both teams told to stay indoors from about 10am. Victory spokesman Nick Slade said staff who had been going out for a coffee about 10am had been told to get back inside, and they had "battened down the hatches". However, the lockdown appeared to finish about 12.15pm, when MCG security said it was safe for staff to move out of the stadium. The gunman is described as being of Spanish appearance with straight dark hair and wearing a dark jacket, red or orange T-shirt and silver tracksuit pants. Superintendent Wilson said the man was believed to have committed an aggravated burglary at a home in Balwyn. He stole a vehicle from the home before driving to the United service station in Bulleen, where he committed an armed robbery. "We believe a firearm was discharged, however further investigations by police have not confirmed this," Superintendent Wilson said. Police believe the man then stole another vehicle before officers began chasing him west on CityLink towards the city. Witnesses to the car chase described seeing a blue VZ Holden Commodore SS sedan travelling at up to 130km/h on the city-bound lanes of the Monash Freeway before the entrance to the Burnley Tunnel about 9.45am. Police said up to four cars were hit in the chase, including an unmarked police station wagon and a Mitsubishi outlander 4WD. Both vehicles were badly damaged. Ambulance Victoria spokesman Paul Bentley said a police officer was treated at the scene for a sore back and had been taken to Box Hill Hospital in a stable condition. Witnesses said the Commodore sped from the scene and was being chased by up to 10 marked and unmarked police vehicles before the vehicle entered the sports precinct. Radio 3AW caller Chris said the pursuit on the Monash had been like a scene "from an American TV show". "It was unbelievable," he said. "Just the speed and (he was) very erratic. There’s no room to weave on the Monash." Chris said the gunman "came flying down the embankment to bypass all the cars coming onto the Monash". He said he saw the driver "shove" one of the police cars. "He missed me by millimetres," he said. A delivery driver who arrived at the MCG was told to stay in his vehicle. "[Police] are everywhere," the driver told Radio 3AW. "Up Punt Road and down Brunton Avenue." Police are advising that public transport including trains, trams and light rail had been stopped in the vicinity of Richmond. Services on eight Metro rail lines were originally halted, but have now resumed. Metro has warned passengers to expect delays of up to 50 minutes. Batman Avenue, Brunton Avenue and Swan Street were also closed but are now open in both directions. Edited June 21, 2010 by lappiemum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dame Aussie Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 Thank christ they found the gun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirst_goldens Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 Last i heard he was being chased for stealing cars all morning so they think he has grabbed a car and taken off but they know who he is and where he lives so they get him but they are unsure that this is the only weapon he had with him so fingers crossed and stay safe people PS that lady on fire thing was HORRIBLE! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haylz27 Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 Wow, I'm glad no one got hurt... That's horrible. Hopefully they catch him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hello Gorgeous Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 This all happened this morning about 10 minutes where I live, so it was pretty scary, but thankfully all seems back to normal in the CBD now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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