4 days ago
Sydney Airport lockdown after person arrested by police
A man has been charged following a struggle with AFP officers at Sydney Airport's T2 terminal, during which a police firearm was discharged.
The 41-year-old Victorian man was allegedly acting suspiciously next to a cafe at the terminal when he was approached by officers.
AFP acting commander Scott Raven said the man became 'verbally and physically aggressive' towards officers and was eventually placed under arrest.
During the arrest, one of the officers' firearms – a short-barrelled rifle – was 'unintentionally discharged'.
Mr Raven wouldn't say how the rifle went off.
'The circumstances of how the firearm … was discharged is now subject to an internal investigation,' he said.
'Additional AFP officers assisted with the incident and a crime scene was established and investigations commenced.'
No one was injured in the incident.
A man has been arrested after a police firearm was discharged at Sydney Airport. Picture: 2GB
The Victorian man has since been charged with one count of obstruct/hinder/intimidate/resist a Commonwealth official and one count of creating a disturbance at an airport.
The maximum penalty for first offence is two years imprisonment, while the second can result in a $3300 fine.
He is expected to face Downing Centre Local Court on September 1.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Mr Raven said the man was known to police and had previous interaction with officers the day before.
'We had dealt with him yesterday in relation to a number of incidents about his behaviour and he left the airport,' he said.
It was initially reported the incident sent part of the T2 terminal into lockdown, according to 2GB's Ben Fordham.
However, Mr Raven confirmed the airport had not been locked down, and there was no ongoing threat to the community.
He said 'passengers expect to feel safe while travelling and should not have to witness intoxication, violence or bad behaviour'.
It is not known if the man was intoxicated at the time of the arrest.
He has since been charged, police say. Picture: Supplied/2GB
A former police dog handler recalled the terrifying moment he intervened in the struggle.
William was due to fly from Sydney to Townsville with his companion, a NSW Police sergeant, when he witnessed a man allegedly struggling with two AFP officers.
Speaking to 2GB after the incident, he said one of the officer's long guns had gone to the ground and was underneath the man when it went off.
William said they worked with police to restrain the man, with his colleague helping 'lock' the man's right hand.
'I applied a wrist lock to lock his left wrist up,' William said.
Asked if he was worried about where the bullet hit – as the gun fired close to the cafe – William said he was concerned about the safety of the man on the floor.
'I was worried about a phenomenon called positional asphyxiation. We had to protect the man who was being restrained,' he told host Mark Levy.
'We had to get him safe, get the firearm safe, of course, identify where the case was … making sure no one else was injured.'
A 41-year-old has been charged with multiple offences. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short
A spokesman for Sydney Airport media earlier confirmed an altercation had taken place at a domestic terminal of the Mascot airport on Wednesday morning.
'Sydney Airport is currently assisting Australian Federal Police following an incident earlier this morning,' a statement read.
'No injuries occurred as a result of the incident.
An airport spokesman said the incident did not cause any disruption to flights. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short
A police firearm was discharged during the incident. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short
'An arrest has been made and the airport is operating normally.'
Video obtained by 2GB showed a man pinned to floor by at least two other men, with a AFP officer brandishing a rifle kneeling on the floor next to the group.
A witness told 2GB they were in the Jetstar terminal 'on the other side of the coffee shop when the gun went off'.
'It was loud, everyone hit the deck,' they said.
'I think it was a police gun. I think it was fired during the initial struggle.'
The incident reportedly plunged part of the airport into lockdown. Picture: NewsWire / Jeremy Piper.
Sydney Airport did not report any flight disruptions, with domestic arrivals and departures running to schedule.
The T2 terminal is predominantly serviced by Jetstar, Qantas' low-cost subsidiary, and Virgin Australia.
Jetstar were contacted for comment but said it was a matter for the AFP.
Read related topics: Sydney Airport
