Australia - Siege/Ambush at Remote Property - 6 Dead Including 2 Police/Neighbor - Wieambilla (Queensland)

[SLouTh]

Wieambilla shootout ‘most dangerous operation’ Queensland specialist police have ever undertaken, inquest hears​

Train family had ‘intense motivation to kill police’ and were highly prepared for shooting ambush, state coroner told

Snip

It’s my view that the Sert response to the Wieambilla incident was the most dangerous operations that Sert’s ever been involved in, certainly in my experience, and the risk to Sert operators was extreme,” he said.

“I felt there was a high risk, a high likelihood, we could lose a Sert operator during that response.”


And much more info here ….

‘Doesn’t have to be this way’: police pleaded with Wieambilla killers to surrender before final shootout

Radicalised Train family had ‘intense motivation to kill police’ and were highly prepared for shooting ambush, coronial inquest hears

www.theguardian.com

It really adds to the perspective of really how dangerous the “Rescue Operation” by local officers actually was ….

IMO

 

[SLouTh]

https://www.couriermail.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-qld/wieambilla-inquest-day-7-commander-reveals-how-sert-responded-to-massacre/news-story/5066418caf60a5f3290fe1707cc778b7?amp

Wieambilla inquest Day 7: Commander reveals how SERT responded to massacre​

The commander of the elite Special Emergency Response Team that responded to the Wieambilla massacre says he never expected the doomsday cop killers to be waiting for them.

The Courier Mail are doing a great job with reporting on this inquest with “live updates” …. Hope it continues!

IMO

 

[drsleuth]

The Courier Mail are doing a great job with reporting on this inquest with “live updates” …. Hope it continues!

IMO

Yes they are. I really like Kate Kyriacou as a journalist, hopefully she might write a book after it's all done & dusted ( Her book The Sting was really good )

Btw that book I said I bought to read on this case, don't rush out & buy it

 

[SLouTh]

Wieambilla shootout ‘most dangerous operation’ Queensland specialist police have ever undertaken, inquest hears​

Train family had ‘intense motivation to kill police’ and were highly prepared for shooting ambush, state coroner told

Snip

It’s my view that the Sert response to the Wieambilla incident was the most dangerous operations that Sert’s ever been involved in, certainly in my experience, and the risk to Sert operators was extreme,” he said.

“I felt there was a high risk, a high likelihood, we could lose a Sert operator during that response.”


And much more info here ….

‘Doesn’t have to be this way’: police pleaded with Wieambilla killers to surrender before final shootout

Radicalised Train family had ‘intense motivation to kill police’ and were highly prepared for shooting ambush, coronial inquest hears

www.theguardian.com

It really adds to the perspective of really how dangerous the “Rescue Operation” by local officers actually was ….

IMO

From the same article …

The police service has since spent “a “significant amount” of money to improve radio communications, he said.

I hope these improved communications have been distributed equitably across the Police Service and not just for SERT Officers …..

As another article advised that SERT communications have since been upgraded …… but didn’t mention general communications ??

Since the incident the specialist response group has improved communications systems.(article linked above)

IMO

 

[SLouTh]

Yes they are. I really like Kate Kyriacou as a journalist, hopefully she might write a book after it's all done & dusted ( Her book The Sting was really good )

Btw that book I said I bought to read on this case, don't rush out & buy it

I think reading about the Train’s “Conspiracy Theories” may do my head in…. But I would like to read a factual book about the entire incident if one comes out ….

IMO

 

[SLouTh]

'Who shoots police and just sits and waits?': Specialist commander takes stand at Wieambilla inquest

A senior commander was almost certain three extremists would flee their property after gunning down two rural police officers.

www.abc.net.au

"I told teams if they surrendered, we would accept a peaceful surrender, but to be aware of past actions — and I felt it would be unlikely that would be the outcome."
Superintendent Partridge was questioned why non-lethal methods weren't used to try and take down the murderous trio.

He noted measures like beanbag rounds were inaccurate at the range where officers were, and attempts to use them would expose them to life threatening danger.

He told the inquest throwing tear-gas like canisters would expose teams to similar danger, and have the opposite desired effect.

"I didn't want them to run away if, by some miracle it did work, their natural reaction would be to say 'let's get out of here', and I didn't want that, I wanted to contain them."

He told the inquest the surest way to instantly incapacitate the Trains was by gunshots to the head.


More at above free link ….

 

[SLouTh]

Another article stating that SERT have been upgraded with the following after the siege…. But nothing so far about upgrades for local Police on the ground working in these areas every day …

Operational changes include ear-protection, thermal imaging scopes and devices purchased to improve SERT responses.

Paywalled for some

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/former-sert-commander-labels-wieambilla-shooting-the-most-dangerous-operation-ever/news-story/1444c894c6bc98b1bbeb030450b1fe1f

The article also mentions SERT are lobbying for a new PolAir Helicopter that has the ability to provide snipers to a scene …. (This option was not available for Wieambilla)

 

[drsleuth]

Wieambilla shootout ‘most dangerous operation’ Queensland specialist police have ever undertaken, inquest hears​

Train family had ‘intense motivation to kill police’ and were highly prepared for shooting ambush, state coroner told

Snip

It’s my view that the Sert response to the Wieambilla incident was the most dangerous operations that Sert’s ever been involved in, certainly in my experience, and the risk to Sert operators was extreme,” he said.

“I felt there was a high risk, a high likelihood, we could lose a Sert operator during that response.”


And much more info here ….

‘Doesn’t have to be this way’: police pleaded with Wieambilla killers to surrender before final shootout

Radicalised Train family had ‘intense motivation to kill police’ and were highly prepared for shooting ambush, coronial inquest hears

www.theguardian.com

It really adds to the perspective of really how dangerous the “Rescue Operation” by local officers actually was ….

IMO

BBM : Certainly was a high risk.

I remember from the Lindt siege inquest the harrowing testimony of the brave 14 TOU operatives Alpha 1 & 2, who all called their loved ones to say goodbye.

I really don't think that the general public realise how much risk these officers are in daily ( also GP officers ) I wouldn't be a cop for quids!

From what I can tell the QLP police did a stella job.

The Lindt siege was also a communications circus , mainly info not being passed on ( from hostages & from commanders to commanders etc) eg the bloody xmas lights not being turned off, which was what really got to Monis. The hostages were begging for them to be turned off, but that was not getting thru to the "decision makers" At one stage energy Aust were sent out & sent home. TOU not answering phone from hostages ( eg when doing change of shift ) & a useless Psychiatrist who was giving advice way outside his scope , he who can't be named............than you had the media live streaming to national television that Monis was watching!

I could go on & on, but the guys on the ground ( TOU ) were never at fault IMO

https://www.lindtinquest.justice.nsw.gov.au/Documents/findings-and-recommendations.pdf

Too many leadership levels & no one really having a situational awareness of the whole event. TOU communication devices going flat & having to share them

 

[SLouTh]

Asked about the risk to his team, Partridge said: "The (Special Emergency Response Team) response to the Wieambilla incident was the most dangerous operation SERT's ever been involved in, certainly in my experience."
"This was due to the number of offenders, heavy calibre of weapons, amount of ammunition they had access to and the Trains' preparation before police arrived - although officers weren't aware of that until later - plus their intense motivation to kill police.
"The risk to SERT operators was extreme."
Partridge said his team followed instructions, executing mission priorities exactly and without hesitation or query.
"As their superintendent now I'm incredibly proud of what they did that night - there was a very good chance someone would be shot and killed, and yet not one of them hesitated," he said.

More here in this free article

Cops suspected a gun fight after deadly ambush, Wieambilla inquest hears

Superintendent Timothy Partridge today told a coroner that attempts to negotiate with the trio at a Wieambi...

www.9news.com.au

 

[SLouTh]

BBM : Certainly was a high risk.

I remember from the Lindt siege inquest the harrowing testimony of the brave 14 TOU operatives Alpha 1 & 2, who all called their loved ones to say goodbye.

I really don't think that the general public realise how much risk these officers are in daily ( also GP officers ) I wouldn't be a cop for quids!

From what I can tell the QLP police did a stella job.

The Lindt siege was also a communications circus , mainly info not being passed on ( from hostages & from commanders to commanders etc) eg the bloody xmas lights not being turned off, which was what really got to Monis. The hostages were begging for them to be turned off, but that was not getting thru to the "decision makers" At one stage energy Aust were sent out & sent home. TOU not answering phone from hostages ( eg when doing change of shift ) & a useless Psychiatrist who was giving advice way outside his scope , he who can't be named............than you had the media live streaming to national television that Monis was watching!

I could go on & on, but the guys on the ground ( TOU ) were never at fault IMO

https://www.lindtinquest.justice.nsw.gov.au/Documents/findings-and-recommendations.pdf

Too many leadership levels & no one really having a situational awareness of the whole event. TOU communication devices going flat & having to share them

Yes agree and I totally get where you are coming from … and the frustrations ….

I also think QP did a stella and remarkable job in this case …. Especially when you factor in the remote location …. And the dire circumstances!

IMO

 

[drsleuth]

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/queensland/wieambilla-inquest-day-7-commander-reveals-how-sert-responded-to-massacre/news-story/5066418caf60a5f3290fe1707cc778b7?amp

Wieambilla inquest Day 7: Commander reveals how SERT responded to massacre​

Dramatic audio has been played of the final moments before specialist police, who pleaded with a trio of Doomsday cop killers to drop their weapons, shot them dead.

Up until minutes before Stacey was shot by a Special Emergency Response Team sniper, police were still unsure whether she was “hostile” and even discussed whether she was being held hostage by Nathaniel and Gareth.

But the hostage theory was at some point ruled unlikely when Stacey was seen by officers hugging one of the other gunmen.


A sniper dugout on the Train property.

 

[drsleuth]

https://www.news.com.au/national/queensland/courts-law/tactical-police-commander-reveals-grave-fears-extremist-cop-killers-would-try-to-flee-after-murdering-cops-neighbour/news-story/a0192d2ba3ef3173223e5b9a934377fd

‘I don’t want to see anyone get hurt today’: Audio of doomed negotiation attempts with crazed cop killers revealed​

Audio of tactical police attempting to negotiate in vain with a trio of cop killers in the moments before they were fatally shot has been revealed.

Senior constable Goodwin said he was communicating with members of the team through a Microsoft Teams chat through the night, relaying the movements of the BearCat and the gunfire.

 

[Sir_Loin]

https://www.news.com.au/national/queensland/courts-law/tactical-police-commander-reveals-grave-fears-extremist-cop-killers-would-try-to-flee-after-murdering-cops-neighbour/news-story/a0192d2ba3ef3173223e5b9a934377fd

‘I don’t want to see anyone get hurt today’: Audio of doomed negotiation attempts with crazed cop killers revealed​

Audio of tactical police attempting to negotiate in vain with a trio of cop killers in the moments before they were fatally shot has been revealed.

Senior constable Goodwin said he was communicating with members of the team through a Microsoft Teams chat through the night, relaying the movements of the BearCat and the gunfire.

They were using teams? I’m assuming that’s because of the radio issues they were having in the area. Good bit of improvisation in the circumstances but a little concerning they didn’t have secure comms to rely on.

 

[drsleuth]

They were using teams? I’m assuming that’s because of the radio issues they were having in the area. Good bit of improvisation in the circumstances but a little concerning they didn’t have secure comms to rely on.

Yes I guess they had to improvise, as the Train's also had the 2 deceased officers radios, so could not communicate thru them also.

But I did wonder , surely they must have a way to disable those 2 radios, or they should IMO

 

[Sir_Loin]

Yes I guess they had to improvise, as the Train's also had the 2 deceased officers radios, so could not communicate thru them also.

But I did wonder , surely they must have a way to disable those 2 radios, or they should IMO

Yeah or switch to a secure frequency.

It’s not a criticism at all because they were outstanding but they need the right gear as you said. Hopefully the other state emergency response teams are taking the same lessons.

 

[drsleuth]

Yeah or switch to a secure frequency.

It’s not a criticism at all because they were outstanding but they need the right gear as you said. Hopefully the other state emergency response teams are taking the same lessons.

I guess nothings perfect, except for the expectations they have on workers who work in broken government systems

 

[SLouTh]

They were using teams? I’m assuming that’s because of the radio issues they were having in the area. Good bit of improvisation in the circumstances but a little concerning they didn’t have secure comms to rely on.

With “Teams” I wonder if they were also on thier personal mobiles???

From an article linked above, SERT also had “person to person” radios …


The other SERT operators spoke to each other on SERT direct communications, between their radios, with one another, which was not compromised, he said.

Supt Partridge said it was frustrating to have the communications issues and he would have liked to have had a greater ability to hear what was happening on the ground and communicate more freely.

He said at one stage he had to make a telephone call from the command post to team leaders.

 

[Rocket333]

The Train’s property is huge, with lots of bush and what appears to be multiple exits. They could have possibly left through a back track at any point but they stayed, waited and bunkered down. Did they actually believe they had a chance of defending themselves behind logs with rifles? Was this a do or die situation for them bolstered by their faith and their staunch belief in their deluded convictions about being courageous in battling the “devils & demons”? Were the fires deliberately lit around the house not a concern (during a hot dry Summer)?

 

[Tweet57]

The Ultimate Sacrifice podcast is certainly confronting to listen to. I just hope each and every person involved in anyway is getting the help they need.

 

[drsleuth]

https://www.couriermail.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-qld/wieambilla-inquest-day-9-sert-operator-describes-moment-armoured-police-vehicle-hit-with-bullets-from-train-trio/news-story/1605b8d143207be299d9f4e0bfc4094f?amp

Wieambilla inquest Day 9: SERT operator describes moment armoured police vehicle hit with bullets from Train trio​

An elite Special Emergency Response Team operative says the shots coming from the Train trio were “like nothing he’d ever experienced before”.