Search for Australian gunman in Victoria enters 5th day as cold weather closes in
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A large contingent of Victoria Police taking part in a manhunt for the fugitive in Porepunkah, Victoria, Australia, on Aug 28.
PHOTO: EPA
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SYDNEY – The Australian police battled severe alpine weather on Aug 30, on the fifth day of a search for a gunman who escaped into dense bush after allegedly shooting dead two officers and injuring another at a rural property in Victoria state.
Hundreds of officers were in the field searching for 56-year-old Dezi Freeman, previously known as Desmond Filby, who is believed to have expert bushcraft skills and multiple powerful firearms, a police spokesperson said.
The search area includes the town of Porepunkah, about 300km north-east of Melbourne, where Freeman is alleged to have fired on the police on Aug 26, before fleeing on foot into the bush.
Bureau of Meteorologist senior forecaster Jonathan How said a severe weather warning was current for the region, which was experiencing challenging conditions of cold, wind and snow.
A very cold night was on the way for the area, including possible black ice on roads, Mr How said.
A minimum temperature of 0 deg C was forecast on Aug 31 for Porepunkah, according to the weather bureau.
Suspect Dezi Freeman is wanted in connection to the shooting incident that led to the death of two on duty police officers in Porepunkah, Australia.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan visited nearby Wangaratta police station on Aug 29 to pay tribute to the two slain officers, Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, 59, and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart, 35, amid what she said was a “huge operation” by the authorities to catch Freeman.
“Their loss won’t be forgotten. With honour they served,” she said of the officers on social media platform X.
Freeman is alleged to have fired on a team of 10 police officers, including members of the sexual offences and child investigation team, when they arrived at his Porepunkah property to execute a search warrant.
Australian media have reported that the police believe Freeman is a “sovereign citizen” who regards the government as illegitimate. REUTERS
