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Three conspiracy theorists had shared delusions but did not carry out a terrorist act when they ambushed police in an attack that killed six people, a coroner says.
Almost three years after the Wieambilla shootings shocked the nation, Queensland state coroner Terry Ryan delivered his findings in Brisbane on Friday.
Brothers Nathaniel, 46, and Gareth Train, 47, used high-powered rifles to gun down constables Matthew Arnold, 26, and Rachel McCrow, 29, at a rural property west of Brisbane on 12 December 2022.
An inquest last year heard expert evidence that the Trains engaged in terrorism that was religiously motivated by their extreme Christian beliefs.
Ryan said he accepted the psychiatric expert evidence in regards to the Trains’ motives, saying the trio suffered from a “shared delusional disorder”.
“They were psychotically unwell and driven by their beliefs.”
But Ryan said it was not possible to conclude the Trains committed a terrorist act under definition of the Commonwealth criminal code.

A fervent belief in Christian premillennialism, which emphasizes the end times, had deeply embedded itself into the Train family’s worldview. However, this was complicated by significant underlying psychiatric issues.

“Their beliefs — although wrong — presented extreme danger to any police who attended their property,” Ryan said.
“They believed the government was evil and that police officers were demons intent on killing them.”
All three Trains were shot dead by specialist police officers hours later after refusing to negotiate or surrender.

An investigation has concluded that Queensland’s Special Emergency Response Team acted within the bounds of acceptable force when they engaged in a prolonged shootout. The confrontation, which extended for over an hour, necessitated the use of lethal force, according to the findings by Ryan.

“The Trains were intent on killing police officers and intent on dying rather than being taken into custody,” Ryan said.
Constables Arnold and McCrow had attended the property with fellow Constables Randall Kirk and Keely Brough on behalf of NSW police.

Prior to these events, Nathaniel Train had been reported missing. He was last known to hold a position as a principal at a state primary school in northern New South Wales.

Constables Kirk and Brough narrowly escaped being killed by the Trains.
NSW Police had not passed on the full information in their computer system to Queensland Police when requesting assistance, Ryan found.
“I accept evidence given by witnesses from NSW and Queensland that in policing, more information is always better,” Ryan said.

In the aftermath, it was noted that the officers involved from Queensland were able to conduct a comprehensive risk assessment, which informed their actions during the operation.

Two women standing together outside

Outside the Brisbane Magistrate’s Court, Judy McCrow and Sue Arnold, the mothers of Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold, respectively, were seen standing in support. Their presence underscored the personal toll and gravity of the incident. This image was captured by Darren England from AAP.

“The officers who did attend (Wieambilla) were denied that opportunity.”

Ryan could not find that Queensland police would have conclusively done anything differently if they had more information from NSW police about Gareth Train’s threatening behaviour and beliefs.
Ryan also recommended that Queensland police review an expanded use of drones for gathering information about remote properties.
He also called for Queensland to consider mandatory mental health assessments for people applying for firearms licences as at least some of the guns and ammunition used at Wieambilla were lawfully obtained.

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