Sydney: A man was arrested after a dramatic incident inside Sydney Airport’s T2 domestic terminal on Wednesday, August 13, during which a police firearm was discharged in a busy public area.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) confirmed that an investigation is underway and a crime scene has been established. Authorities added that there was no ongoing threat to travellers.
Here are some visuals from the scene:
No Injuries, Airport Operations Unaffected
An airport spokesperson said that despite the incident, there were no injuries and the terminal continued to operate as normal.
“Sydney Airport is currently assisting Australian Federal Police (AFP) following an incident earlier this morning. No injuries occurred as a result of the incident. An arrest has been made and the airport is operating normally," the spokesperson said, as quoted by 2GB.
The discharge of the firearm occurred in an area close to cafés and dining spaces within the terminal. Footage shared by Sydney radio station 2GB showed a man being restrained on the ground by at least three people, including an armed police officer.
Here's What Eyewitnesses Said
According to sources quoted by 2GB’s Ben Fordham, the arrested man allegedly attempted to snatch an AFP officer’s firearm during a struggle, leading to the weapon going off.
One eyewitness told Fordham they had been “on the other side of the coffee shop when the gun went off. It was loud. Everyone hit the deck. I think it was a police gun. I think it was fired during the initial struggle.”
The exact circumstances of the discharge is not confirmed yet but a full investigation is being conducted, as per AFP. Airport security operations remained visible in the area throughout the morning, but passenger movements were unaffected.
The identity of the arrested man has not yet been released yet, and charges are expected to be determined following the AFP’s inquiry.
