Emergency Declaration by Australian Police Following Shooting Incident

Synopsis

A man was hospitalized after being shot in the head with a homemade weapon in Queensland, Australia. Police declared an emergency at the scene, where a confrontation led to the gunfire. A new task force in South Australia aims to combat youth gang violence as crime rates among young offenders see a significant rise.

Key Takeaways

Emergency declaration issued by police in Queensland.
Victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
A homemade shotgun was involved in the incident.
Police have established a crime scene and are searching for the shooter.
New task force in SA targets youth gang violence.

Sydney, Feb 6 (NationPress) A man has been hospitalized after sustaining a gunshot wound to the head from a homemade weapon in eastern Australia on Thursday.

Authorities in Queensland, Australia, issued an emergency declaration after receiving reports of a shooting at a property in the Tallebudgera Valley, located approximately 80 km south of Brisbane, around midday local time.

The victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries to his shoulder and head and was promptly taken to a local hospital for medical attention.

Queensland Police Chief Inspector Les Bulluss informed the media that a homemade shotgun was discharged during a confrontation between two individuals at the secluded location.

"It's a handmade shotgun. It's very well made and it's something that's quite concerning," he stated.

"The weapon is constructed from piping."

Police have set up a crime scene and deployed specialized units along with a helicopter to the area in search of the alleged shooter, as reported by Xinhua.

Local residents have been advised to remain indoors, and the public is urged to steer clear of the established police exclusion zone.

In a related development, South Australia (SA) police have initiated a new task force aimed at tackling violent offenses perpetrated by youth gangs.

The SA Police announced the formation of the Youth and Street Gangs Task Force on Wednesday, enhancing resources dedicated to investigating youth-related crime, domestic violence, cyber offenses, and retail theft.

Commissioner Grant Stevens indicated that the task force would not only respond to crimes but also focus on preventive and rehabilitative efforts.

"Youth crime is not solely about criminal activity but also involves the recruitment of younger members, so the task force presents an opportunity to disrupt this cycle," he remarked in a statement.

"This permanent task force will aim to hinder and diminish the criminal actions of targeted offenders, especially those involved in violent crimes that pose a substantial risk to community safety."

The task force has been established by merging two existing police operations and augmenting its ranks with an additional 13 officers.

Data from SA Police released earlier in January indicated a significant surge in crimes committed by individuals aged 10-17, rising by 140 percent from 6,938 in 2018-19 to 16,710 in 2023-24.