Detective leading senior constable Neal Thompson, 59, and senior constable Vadim De Waart, 35, were shot while executing a search warrant at the property near the town’s edge on Tuesday morning.
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“Please stay alert. Ensure your safety. Stay indoors unless absolutely necessary. We are doing all we can to apprehend this heavily armed suspect. Should you notice anything suspicious, do not hesitate to call 000 immediately,” Bush urged.
“Our understanding of him [Freeman] is that he understands bush craft well, which provides a challenge for us,” Bush said.
The rural Victorian town of Porepunkah is situated approximately 300km north-east of Melbourne. Source: SBS News
The weather in Victoria’s high country continues to deteriorate on Wednesday as the search focuses back on the property.
He was last seen wearing dark green tracksuit pants, a dark green rain jacket, brown Blundstone boots and reading glasses.
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“Neal found renewed motivation after meeting his partner and was eagerly planning for his upcoming retirement. He and Lisa had constructed a new home and had many projects arranged for his post-retirement days,” they shared.
“Vadim is deeply mourned by his cherished parents, Carolina and Alain, in his homeland Belgium, and his younger brother, Sacha, residing in Switzerland. In Melbourne, he leaves behind his aunt Jacqueline, uncles Shane and Peter, aunt Maria, and his cousins Christopher, Jeremy, Laura, and Tessa.”
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“We have seen that spread and it is difficult to defend against individuals.
