A gunman who allegedly opened fire on police officers while barricaded inside a suburban house during a tense siege has been dramatically arrested – on the same day as the emotional funeral of two police officers shot dead by the infamous Doomsday Prepper Trio.
- Queensland Police have established an emergency zone in regional Toowoomba
- It is understood two men are inside a Park St house, one allegedly armed
- The police declared an emergency shortly before noon on Wednesday
- In the evening, shots were fired from the house, and the police returned
- The police arrested two men inside the house around 18:30 after a shooting
Two men have been arrested after a six-hour standoff with heavily armed police.
Queensland Police issued an emergency declaration under the Public Safety Protection Act (PSPA) in Toowoomba, west of Brisbane, shortly before midday on Wednesday after two men allegedly stabbed a house with a firearm.
Officers arrived to search the Newtown property on Park Street at around 10.45am AEST.
It is not yet known why the police were sent to search the house.
Police began negotiating with an allegedly armed man inside the home upon arrival. Another man was also in the house.
Two men arrested after six-hour standoff with police at home in Newtown, Toowoomba (pictured, men arrested)
Queensland Police declared an emergency area (in blue above) around the house after it was understood one of the men was believed to be armed.
Police declared a state of emergency just before 12pm and residents of Tor Street, Park Street and Dalmany Street were warned to “stay indoors”.
Officers evacuated some residents from Parke Street and said more would be removed from the area if necessary.
It is understood police and one of the men exchanged about six shots in the late afternoon.
All roads leading to the emergency site were closed with more than half a dozen marked and unmarked police cars seen around.
An unconcerned resident said emergency services are a regular presence on the street.
Officers were sent to search a home on Park St (above) on Wednesday morning, but instead began negotiating with the men inside.
Specialists and county officers (above) gathered in the area around the house to ask nearby residents to stay indoors as the situation unfolded.
“Now I’m not that worried. I was shocked because I didn’t know what was going on,” he told the Toowoomba Chronicle.
“It’s a good street because if you ever need an ambulance you can reach out and wave because there’s always one running down the street.
“If you ever need a policeman, you reach out, because there’s always one running down the street.”
A witness said Special Emergency Response Team agents were stationed in front of the home late Wednesday night.
They were said to be armed with rifles.
Two men were arrested from the home at around 6.30pm, with photographs showing them being led into the back of a police car.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Queensland police for comment.
One of the men reportedly shot at police before being arrested on Wednesday (pictured with police cars blocking the entrance to the emergency site).
Queensland Police are holding a funeral for officers Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold who were shot 185 kilometers northwest of Toowoomba in Wiemilla.
McCrow and Arnold were two of four agents sent to search the property of missing man Nathaniel Train.
However, Train, his brother, and his brother’s wife, Stacey, shot at the officers as they approached the property’s home.
The trio are understood to have well-planned the attack and were active on anti-authority conspiracy theory websites.
The two dead officers were farewelled at the public funeral held on Wednesday.