Australia: Two Individuals Charged for Bringing Firearms to Melbourne Sports Event

Synopsis

On April 4, two men were arrested in Melbourne for allegedly bringing firearms to an AFL match attended by over 80,000 fans. The police confirmed no injuries occurred and stated that the incident was not considered terrorism. Prime Minister Albanese condemned the act and praised police efforts.

Key Takeaways

Two men charged for bringing firearms to a sports event.
Incident occurred during an AFL match with over 82,000 attendees.
No injuries reported; public safety not at risk.
Prime Minister described the act as shocking.
MCG to implement enhanced security measures.

Sydney, April 4 (NationPress) Two individuals have been apprehended and charged in Australia for allegedly bringing firearms into a Melbourne sports event attended by more than 80,000 spectators.

Authorities in the state of Victoria reported on Friday that police were summoned by stadium security to intervene with two men who were refusing to vacate an Australian Football League (AFL) match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Thursday evening.

Officers detained both men, aged 27 and 21, and purportedly discovered two firearms, one of which was loaded, during a standard search, as per reports from Xinhua news agency.

The AFL indicated that the regular season match between Melbourne rivals Collingwood and Carlton saw an attendance of 82,058 fans.

A police statement confirmed that no injuries occurred during the incident and that there was no ongoing threat to public safety.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese characterized the situation as "shocking".

"This is pretty shocking reporting, frankly, that two men attempted this," he expressed on Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio.

"I hope that they face severe consequences for their actions, and I extend my gratitude to Victoria Police for their efforts in ensuring public safety."

The 27-year-old was charged with six offenses, including possessing a loaded firearm, carrying ammunition without a license, and owning an unregistered handgun. The 21-year-old faced three charges.

Both men, hailing from Melbourne's northwest, were out on bail while awaiting trial for prior criminal charges.

Victoria Police confirmed that this incident is not being treated as an act of terrorism.

The MCG, recognized as the largest stadium in the southern hemisphere with a capacity exceeding 100,000, announced in March 2024 that all attendees at events would be required to pass through AI-powered full-body scanners and weapon detectors as part of a comprehensive security enhancement.