Sydney, Jan 22 (NationPress) Three individuals lost their lives in a tragic shooting incident occurring west of Sydney, in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, on Thursday afternoon.

The NSW Police Force disclosed in an announcement that emergency services were summoned after reports of gunfire in the small locality of Lake Cargelligo, situated 450 km west of Sydney, at approximately 4:40 pm local time, according to Xinhua News Agency.

Authorities confirmed the fatalities of three individuals, which included two women and one man.

Additionally, a second man has been transported to the hospital in serious yet stable condition.

A crime scene has been established, with police advising the public to steer clear of the area and urging local residents to remain indoors.

Earlier, on January 18, police in New South Wales reported that a man sustained serious injuries due to a shooting incident in a public space in Sydney's west.

Emergency services were alerted to a residence in Lalor Park, a suburb of Sydney, around 11:35 pm local time on Saturday, following reports of the shooting.

Officials were informed that unidentified individuals had discharged multiple shots into a home, injuring one resident before fleeing the scene by vehicle.

The victim, a 46-year-old male, received treatment from NSW Ambulance paramedics for a gunshot wound before being admitted to the hospital in stable condition.

On January 8, Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a royal commission focusing on antisemitism and social cohesion in Australia, in response to the terror attack that occurred at Sydney's Bondi Beach.

At a press conference held in Canberra, Albanese stated that his government would initiate a royal commission, the most prestigious form of inquiry in Australia, which will be directed by former High Court justice Virginia Bell and is expected to submit a report by mid-December.

"I’ve taken the time to reflect, to meet with leaders in the Jewish community and, most importantly, I’ve met with numerous families of victims and survivors of that horrific attack," he mentioned.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the inquiry would assess the nature and extent of antisemitism in Australia, provide recommendations for law enforcement to combat antisemitism, review the circumstances surrounding the Bondi Beach attack, and deliver suggestions for enhancing social cohesion.

"I’ve consistently stated that our government’s priority is to foster unity and social cohesion, which is essential for Australia to heal, learn, and unite in a spirit of national solidarity," he added.

The alleged lone surviving assailant, 24-year-old Naveed Akram, has been charged with 59 offenses, including 15 counts of murder, related to the attack, which authorities claim was driven by Islamic State ideology.