Man arrested after police gun is fired at Sydney Airport
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The incident took place at the domestic terminal of Sydney Airport.
PHOTO: REUTERS
SYDNEY - Australia’s busiest airport was briefly thrown into chaos on the morning of Aug 13 when a police officer’s gun was fired as authorities tried to arrest a suspect.
Australian Federal Police Acting Commander Scott Raven said authorities were informed the man was acting “suspiciously” at Sydney Airport’s domestic check-in counter.
When police attempted to speak to the man inside the terminal, the 41-year-old man “became verbally and physically aggressive”, resulting in his arrest.
During the tussle, a police firearm was “unintentionally discharged”, Mr Raven said.
Footage released by local media showed an officer checking his rifle as two other people pinned a man to the ground.
Witnesses said they heard a loud bang before the dining area went into lockdown, Sydney radio station 2GB reported.
“An investigation into the incident has been launched and a crime scene has been established,” police said in a statement.
“There were no injuries as a result of the incident and there is no ongoing threat to the public.”
He said police spoke to the same man at the airport on Aug 12 “in relation to a number of incidents about his behaviour and he left the airport”.
The man, from Victoria, was charged with one count of obstructing a police officer and one count of creating a disturbance at an airport.
The first charge carries up to two years behind bars, while the second carries a A$3,000 (S$2,500) fine.
The man was released on bail and will appear in court in September.
Sydney Airport said normal operations had since resumed. AFP
