A huge manhunt is under way for a heavily armed male suspect after two Australian police officers were shot dead and one injured in an ambush at a property in a small rural town in Victoria state.
Police described the situation in Porepunkah in the Australian Alps - some 300km (186 miles) north-east of Melbourne - as an active incident with hundreds of personnel deployed to find the suspect.
Officers were attacked as 10 of them attended the property to serve an arrest warrant, which Australian media said was for historical sex offences.
Police say the suspect escaped into the bush alone and on foot after the shooting. Officers are still trying to locate the man's wife and children.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said 10 officers went to the property on Tuesday at about 10:30 local time (00:30 GMT), detailing how officers were fired upon by a heavily armed offender. He stated that two colleagues - a 59-year-old detective and a 35-year-old senior constable - were murdered in cold blood.
A third officer was seriously injured and airlifted to hospital. The state police chief confirmed that all available resources were utilized for the manhunt, emphasizing the call for locals to remain indoors.
Mr. Bush highlighted the urgent priority to apprehend the dangerous suspect and restore safety to the community.
The suspect is believed to have acted alone during the shooting, and concerns remain as police continue their search for his family, who have not been seen since his escape.
Community leaders have expressed deep sorrow over the incident, with Mayor Sarah Nicholas and leaders including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan praising the bravery of the fallen officers.
As the investigation continues, police remain focused on confronting the growing threat posed by self-declared sovereign citizens, a group that challenges government authority and is linked to rising violence in recent years.
