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Wieambilla shootings

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The Wieambilla shootings was a religiously motivated terrorist attack in Australia on 12 December 2022. It involved the killing of police constables Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow, and neighbour Alan Dare, at a rural property in Wieambilla, a locality in Queensland. Three residents, brothers Gareth and Nathaniel Train, and Gareth's wife, Stacey Train, were subsequently shot and killed by responding police. The shootings were labelled as Australia's first fundamentalist Christian terrorist attack.[1]

Wieambilla shootings
Part of Terrorism in Australia
Constable Matthew Arnold and Constable Rachel McCrow, killed on duty
Location251 Wains Road, Wieambilla, Queensland, Australia
Coordinates27°01′51″S 150°29′31″E / 27.030707°S 150.491924°E / -27.030707; 150.491924
Date12 December 2022
4:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. (AEST, UTC+10:00)
Attack type
Ambush, mass shooting, shootout, triple-murder
WeaponsFirearms
Deaths6 (including three perpetrators)
Injured2
VictimsConstable Matthew Arnold
Constable Rachel McCrow
Alan Dare
PerpetratorsNathaniel Train
Gareth Train
Stacey Train
MotiveChristian fundamentalism

Background edit

New South Wales Police asked Queensland Police to conduct a check at the Wieambilla property, owned by Gareth Train and his wife Stacey, as part of an ongoing missing person case. New South Wales police reported that Gareth's brother Nathaniel Train, the former principal of Walgett Community College Primary School and Yorkeys Knob State School,[2] had not made contact since 9 October, and police were sent to conduct a welfare check as well as to follow up a warrant related to a December 2021 weapons dumping and a state border breach.[3][4] Nathaniel's estranged second wife, who had lodged the missing person report on 4 December, had subsequently been inundated with threatening and vicious messages from Gareth.[5]

Gareth Train was an active participant in Australian conspiracy theory forums and websites: he had espoused strong anti-government, anti-police and anti-vaccine views, and supported the sovereign citizen movement.[6] The father of Gareth and Nathaniel, Pastor Ronald Train, said in an interview on A Current Affair that "Gareth in particular was obsessed with guns and weapons, Nathaniel to a lesser degree", and that Gareth was a difficult child who was "very volatile [and] very controlling".[7]

Gareth was a known online conspiracy theorist who claimed the Port Arthur massacre was a false flag operation[8] and that Princess Diana was killed in a "blood sacrifice".[9] Both Nathaniel and Gareth had a dislike for police.[10][11] Nathaniel was previously married to Stacey.[12] Stacey and Nathaniel were former teachers, having resigned in 2020 and 2021 respectively.[13]

Incident edit

Two police constables from nearby Tara and two further constables from Chinchilla attended the property in two police vehicles at Wieambilla, a rural locality 270 kilometres (170 mi) northwest of the state capital, Brisbane. The two groups met at the locked entrance to the property at about 4:30 p.m. and after receiving no response jumped the fence and approached the residence.[14]

Residents then shot at the police in what was described as an ambush and an execution.[15] Constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold were wounded and then fatally shot again at close range, and had their weapons taken.[16] The two remaining police, one of whom was wounded by glass fragments (and later hospitalised), escaped to raise the alarm.[17] The perpetrators then lit a grass fire to try to locate an officer who had hidden there.[18] A neighbour, Alan Dare, investigating the grass fire, was fatally shot in the back.[16][19] Following the murders, Gareth and Stacey posted an online video under their middle names, Daniel and Jane. Gareth said "they came to kill us and we killed them", referring to police as "devils and demons".[20]

A six-hour siege followed, with 16 specialist police officers from the Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) and a police helicopter responding to the incident. Shortly after 10:30 p.m., SERT officers breached the property and fatally shot all of the alleged perpetrators: Nathaniel, Gareth and Stacey Train.[16]

On 18 December, police charged two men with unlawful trespass and stealing by looting on the Trains' property.[21]

Victims edit

Arnold was aged 26, McCrow was aged 29, and Dare was aged 58. The two constables who survived, Randall Kirk and Keely Brough, were both aged 28 at the time of the shooting;[17] both were taken to hospital, and Kirk underwent surgery to remove shrapnel and treat his injuries.[22]

Arnold had been sworn in as a police officer in March 2020 and McCrow in June 2021.[23]

McCrow and Arnold were awarded the National Police Service Medal, National Medal, Queensland Police Service Medal, and Queensland Police Valour Medal during their memorial service held at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on 21 December 2022.[24]

The Queensland Police Service announced it would be awarding Dare a posthumous Queensland Police Bravery Medal.[25] His funeral was held on 23 December.[26]

 
The Queensland Police Eurocopter EC135 P2+ that was utilised during the siege

Reactions edit

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to the victims, labelling it a "devastating day" for the local community and for Queensland Police.[27] Other federal party leaders, including Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, Nationals leader David Littleproud and Greens leader Adam Bandt, paid their respects.[28] Dutton, a former Queensland police officer, became emotional during a condolence motion in parliament.[29]

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced that buildings across the state including Brisbane's Story Bridge would light up in blue and white to honour the victims[30] and state flags would be lowered to half-mast.[18]

New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet paid his respects at a police memorial[31] and announced on 14 December that the Sydney Opera House would be lit up in blue that night in honour of the police officers.[32]

The Australian Federal Police[33] and the New Zealand Police[34] sent their condolences, as did the Queensland Police Union[35] which subsequently announced plans to purchase the property, to serve as a memorial for the fallen officers and to prevent the site from "falling into the wrong hands".[36]

Investigation edit

In February 2023, Deputy Police Commissioner Tracy Linford said that "We [Queensland Police] don't believe this attack was random or spontaneous" and that "There is absolutely no evidence at this time that there is anyone else in Australia that participated or assisted in this attack."[37] Linford further stated that the Trains were religious extremists who subscribed to "a broad Christian fundamentalist belief system known as premillennialism",[38][39] and that the attack was religiously motivated.[37]

In December 2023, Donald Day Jr was arrested in the U.S. state of Arizona in connection with the shootings. It is alleged that in the months leading up to the incident Day sent the shooters "Christian end-of-days" ideological messages.[40][41] In January 2024, prosecutors added further charges, accusing Day of illegal gun possession and threatening FBI agents at the time of his arrest.[42]

At a National Cabinet meeting in December 2023, State and Territory Premiers and Chief Ministers along with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese promised to implement a National Firearms Register, Anthony Albanese cited the Wieambilla tragedy as a reason for developing this policy.[43]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Joe Hinchliffe (16 February 2023). "Wieambilla shootings labelled Australia's first Christian terrorist attack". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  2. ^ Emmett, Patrick (13 December 2022). "Former school principal and his brother identified as alleged gunmen in deadly Queensland siege". ABC News. Archived from the original on 13 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  3. ^ Gillespie, Eden (22 December 2022). "Nathaniel Train had warrant out for his arrest at time of Wieambilla shootings, police reveal". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 24 December 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  4. ^ Morris-Grant, Brianna; Williams, Tom; Riga, Jessica (12 December 2022). "Live: Bravery 'beyond belief' as police commissioner names officers who survived shooting". ABC News. Archived from the original on 13 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  5. ^ Baker, Jordan (14 December 2022). "Missing persons report sparked 'vicious' fury from killer brother". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 15 December 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  6. ^ Wilson, Cam (13 December 2022). "Experts renew warnings about threat of conspiracy and sovereign citizen movements after Queensland shooting". crikey.com. Archived from the original on 14 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  7. ^ Tiffanie Turnbull (15 December 2022). "Wieambilla police killers obsessed with guns, father says". BBC News. Archived from the original on 15 December 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  8. ^ Smee, Ben (13 December 2022). "Wieambilla shooting: property owner Gareth Train posted regularly on online conspiracy website before police killed". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 13 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  9. ^ Camberlin, Thomas; Kyriacou, Kate; Scott, Samantha; Nolan, Michael; Philp, Jordan; Devon, Emily; Morri, Mark (13 December 2022). "Three shot dead by police after two officers, member of public killed in ambush". The Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 13 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  10. ^ Wu, David (12 December 2022). "Former principal and his brother at centre of murders of two young cops". skynews. Archived from the original on 13 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  11. ^ Turnbull, Tiffanie (13 December 2022). "Wieambilla: Six dead in shooting at remote Australian property". BBC News. Archived from the original on 13 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  12. ^ Schelle, Caroline (14 December 2022). "Father of two brothers behind ambush that killed police officers speaks out". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 14 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  13. ^ Foster, Ally (15 December 2022). "Unsettling new details about the murderous Train trio". news.com.au. Archived from the original on 19 December 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  14. ^ Green, Eli (15 December 2022). "Heartbroken wife of Alan Dare killed in Wieambilla shooting cries for answers about his death". NCA NewsWire. Archived from the original on 14 December 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022 – via The Australian.
  15. ^ Read, Chloe; Wuth, Robyn; Cosoleto, Tara (13 December 2022). "Six dead, including two police officers, after shooting and siege at rural property". Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 12 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  16. ^ a b c Frost, Natasha (13 December 2022). "6 Dead, Including 2 Officers, After Shootout in Rural Australia". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 13 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  17. ^ a b Read, Cloe (12 December 2022). "Two young officers, neighbour killed before three offenders shot dead". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 13 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  18. ^ a b Kelly, Cait (13 December 2022). "Queensland police officers Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow 'didn't stand a chance' in Wieambilla shooting". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 13 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  19. ^ "'Heart of gold': A hero's farewell for neighbour Alan Dare who was killed in Queensland shooting". SBS News. 23 December 2022. Archived from the original on 24 December 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  20. ^ Gillespie, Eden; McGowan, Michael (16 December 2022). "Queensland shooting: Gareth and Stacey Train published YouTube video after killing police officers". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 18 December 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  21. ^ "Stealing by looting charges, Wieambilla". Queensland Police News. 18 December 2022. Archived from the original on 19 December 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  22. ^ Cloe Read (14 December 2022). "'Everyone was crying': police boss speaks to families of shot officers". Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 15 December 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  23. ^ "Two police officers shot dead during siege at Queensland property identified as Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold". ABC News (Australia). 13 December 2022. Archived from the original on 15 December 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  24. ^ Warren Barnsley (21 December 2022). "QLD police memorial for slain officers Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold hears heartbreaking tributes". Seven News. Archived from the original on 21 December 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  25. ^ Peter Gunders, Alex Brewster, and Kemii Maguire (23 December 2022). "Neighbour killed in Queensland shooting Alan Dare to be farewelled at funeral, receive Queensland Police Service Medal". ABC News (Australia). Archived from the original on 23 December 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  26. ^ Gibbs, Marty Silk and Nick (23 December 2022). "Alan Dare gets hero's farewell in Queensland". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 23 December 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  27. ^ "PM pays tribute to police killed in shooting – as it happened | Australia news | the Guardian". Archived from the original on 13 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  28. ^ Bannister, Maeve; Brown, Andrew (12 December 2022). "Australia mourns police deaths: Albanese". AAP. Archived from the original on 7 August 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023 – via PerthNow.
  29. ^ Hitch, Georgia (15 December 2022). "Peter Dutton becomes emotional during condolence motion for Queensland shooting victims". ABC News. Archived from the original on 15 December 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  30. ^ "Queensland to light up in blue and white for police after 'horrific tragedy'". 13 December 2022. Archived from the original on 13 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  31. ^ Fife-Yeomans, Janet; Bharadwaj, Angira (14 December 2022). "Opera House tribute to brave slain Queensland cops who unwittingly walked into a massacre". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 7 August 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  32. ^ The Premier, Deputy Premier (14 December 2022). "Sydney Opera House sails to be lit blue in remembrance of Queensland police officers" (Press release). NSW Government. Archived from the original on 15 December 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  33. ^ Australian Federal Police [@AusFedPolice] (12 December 2022). "We are heartbroken over the tragic passing of two @QldPolice officers who were killed in the line of duty yesterday. Sadly, a member of the public also died" (Tweet). Retrieved 15 December 2022 – via Twitter.
  34. ^ New Zealand Police [@nzpolice] (12 December 2022). "Our thoughts are with our @QldPolice colleagues and the families affected by yesterday's tragic event 💙" (Tweet). Retrieved 15 December 2022 – via Twitter.
  35. ^ "'Pure execution': Police union devastated by Wieambilla shooting". 9news.com.au. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  36. ^ Richards, Sarah (19 December 2022). "Queensland Police Union plan to buy rural property where officers were killed". ABC News. Archived from the original on 19 December 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  37. ^ a b "Trio who shot dead Queensland police officers executed 'religiously motivated terrorist attack'". ABC News. 16 February 2023. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  38. ^ Ciara Jones (16 February 2023). "Queensland police say the Wieambilla shooting is a terrorist attack motivated by premillennialism. Here's what that means". ABC News (Australia). Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  39. ^ Anna Houlahan (16 February 2023). "What is premillennialism? Wieambilla shooters religion revealed". Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  40. ^ Iorio, Kelsie; Black, Jessica (6 December 2023). "Man arrested in Arizona over religiously motivated terror attack at Wieambilla sent shooters 'end of days' ideological messages". ABC News. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023.
  41. ^ Nguyen, Kevin; Gramenz, Emilie (29 December 2023). "Donald Day Jr, US sovereign citizen linked to Wieambilla murders, was prepared for deadly 'last stand' with police, court hears". ABC News. Archived from the original on 29 December 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  42. ^ "'I'm not playing': Court documents reveal alleged terrorist Donald Day's threats against FBI agents". ABC News. 17 January 2024. Archived from the original on 18 January 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  43. ^ The Hon Anthony Albanese MP (6 December 2023). "Meeting of National Cabinet – the Federation working for Australia" (Press release). Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600: Prime Minister of Australia. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 7 December 2023. Ahead of the anniversary of the police shooting in Wieambilla, National Cabinet agreed to implement a National Firearms Register – delivering on an outstanding reform from the Port Arthur massacre response in 1996. This represents the most significant improvement in Australia's firearms management systems in almost 30 years and will keep Australia's first responders and community safer.{{cite press release}}: CS1 maint: location (link)  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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