Sydney: Authorities seized a major police operation after a string of gunshots rang out near a shopping centre in southwest Sydney on Friday morning. Australian police in New South Wales (NSW) confirmed that emergency crews were dispatched to a report of shots fired outside a gym inside Gregory Hills Shopping Centre—about 45 km from downtown Sydney—around 8:35 am local time. When officers arrived, they discovered several shots had been fired at a man who then left the scene, according to Xinhua News Agency. NSW Police added that two men, armed and wearing black clothing with face coverings, had been spotted at the site, and no injuries were reported.
Two witnesses told Nine Entertainment radio that they heard as many as ten gunshots, and several members of the public sought refuge inside nearby stores. A substantial police presence was established at the scene, the shopping centre was secured as a crime scene, and investigations began.
In a separate incident earlier on Wednesday, a man died and two others were taken to hospital after a shooting on a property in eastern Australia. NSW police reported that emergency services were notified of a shooting in the small town of Eungella—over 640 km northeast of Sydney, near the Queensland border—around 1:25 pm. Officers were informed that a third man, who had shot two men aged 38 and 41, fled with a fourth individual. The 41‑year‑old was tended by paramedics but died on the spot; the 38‑year‑old was transported to hospital for a gunshot wound. A subsequent call came after a 45‑year‑old was struck by a vehicle; he was taken to hospital under police escort. NSW Police said officers are waiting to question the two hospitalized men to determine how they were injured and are also searching for the fourth suspect, who is believed to be about 37 years old.
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