NSW Police say charges are yet to be pressed against a man in custody being treated in hospital after as many as 100 shots were fired in Sydney’s inner-west.
The shots rang out over a two-hour window between 7.45pm and 9.30pm on Sunday in Croydon Park, resulting in numerous people being injured.
Streets were closed and the area was placed in lockdown as police launched a major operation after reports of a man indiscriminately firing at motorists, including police cars, travelling along Georges River Road.
Police confirmed to SBS News that they are still on-site, as the investigation is ongoing.
In what authorities referred to as an “active shooting situation,” the Tactical Police Unit was deployed to apprehend a 60-year-old man residing in an apartment above a commercial area on the bustling street.
Acting superintendent Stephen Parry told reporters it is unclear exactly how many shots were fired, “but there could have been anywhere between 50 and 100 shots that have been discharged”.
He said numerous vehicles and premises sustained gunshots and damage during the incident, but a clearer picture would be available in daylight.
Parry said the scene was secured “fairly quickly” and praised the officers involved.
“They exhibited extreme levels of bravery in doing what they did,” he told reporters in a late-night press conference.
“They were under rapid fire gun shots on a number of occasions and should all be commended for their actions.”
He was unable to confirm whether officers also fired their weapons during the stand-off.
Emergency medical personnel attended to 16 individuals on the spot for minor injuries. Some were hurt by flying glass from windows struck by gunfire, while others received care for shock.
Two people were taken to hospital after being treated by paramedics.
A man in his 50s appeared at Canterbury Hospital with wounds to his neck and head.
He was later transported to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in a serious condition.
The 60-year-old man is under police custody in Bankstown Hospital and is expected to be questioned and formally charged on Monday.
Firearms, including a high-calibre rifle, were also seized during his arrest, police said.
— With additional reporting by the Australian Associated Press
