Australian police are battling severe alpine weather as they continue their fifth day of searching for a gunman accused of killing two officers and injuring another in Victoria state. Hundreds of officers are hunting for 56-year-old Dezi Freeman, formerly known as Desmond Filby, who is believed to have strong bush survival skills and access to several high-powered weapons, police said.
The search is focused around Porepunkah, about 300 km northeast of Melbourne, where Freeman allegedly opened fire on police at his rural property on Tuesday before fleeing into nearby bushland. The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning for the area, with cold winds, snow, and freezing conditions making the search more difficult. Temperatures are expected to drop to 0°C on Sunday, with risks of black ice on the roads.
On Friday, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan visited Wangaratta police station to honor the two fallen officers, Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, 59, and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart, 35. “Their loss won’t be forgotten. With honor they served,” Allan wrote on X. Authorities say Freeman allegedly fired on a team of 10 officers, including members of the sexual offenses and child investigation team, who had arrived to carry out a search warrant at his property.
Also Read:
Adeera of PIF Will Manage The Hotel Portfolio in Qiddiya City
Following Trump’s Remarks, Russia Calls For Prudence in Nuclear “Rhetoric
