Mass shooting shocks inner western Sydney

Gunfire erupts in Sydney

The shocking incident unfolded when police received reports of an active shooter firing from his property at passing cars and law enforcement. Witnesses described a scene reminiscent of a Hollywood blockbuster, with explosions and shattered glass ringing through the air. “I thought it was fireworks or rocks being thrown,” recounted office worker Joe Azar, who was working across the street at the time of the attack. “Then a guy’s windscreen blew up, and the bus stop glass shattered. It was surreal.”

Swift police response and arrest

Within moments, a large police contingent arrived, quickly surrounding the area and sealing off the street. Officers later entered the property above a business and arrested the suspect, seizing a rifle at the scene. The accused shooter received treatment for minor injuries around his eyes sustained during the arrest but has yet to face any charges as the investigation continues.

Revised casualty figures

Initially, police estimated that up to 100 rounds had been fired, injuring around 20 people. However, New South Wales Police Acting Superintendent Stephen Parry later updated those figures to roughly 50 bullets and 16 injured. “In my 35 years in the police, there have been very few incidents of this nature where somebody is randomly targeting people in the street,” he stated, highlighting the seriousness and rarity of such events in Australia.

Witnesses describe chaos

Witness Tadgh, who was watching rugby at the time, echoed the chaos, stating, “It was very loud – ‘bang, bang, bang’ with flash-bangs and sparks. It was something out of a movie, really.”

No terror links confirmed

Despite the alarming nature of the shooting, police confirmed that the gunman's motive remains unclear, stating there are "no known links to terrorist activity or any gang affiliations." One man presented himself to the hospital with a gunshot wound but is expected to survive. In contrast, others received treatment for minor injuries, mainly from flying glass as bullets struck vehicle windows.

Condemnation and rare mass shooting

New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon condemned the incident, describing it as “serious and terrifying.” Mass shootings are particularly uncommon in Australia due to strict gun laws introduced since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, which resulted in 35 deaths.

Sydney reacts to a night of chaos

As the investigation into this shocking event progresses, Sydney struggles to deal with the aftermath of a night that transformed an ordinary street into a scene of panic and chaos.