The armed suspect is still on the run and has reportedly taken his wife and children hostage.
Two police officers have been shot dead at a rural property in northeast Victoria with the armed suspect reportedly taking his family hostage.
The incident happened when police were executing a search warrant for a firearms prohibition order at an address on Rayner Track in Porepunkah, near Bright, on Tuesday morning.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Two police officers shot dead in Victoria.
Alleged gunman who shot dead two police officers identified
It is understood the officers were searching an abandoned bus at the property when they were shot at by a man.
Two officers were killed while a third was shot in the leg.
The injured officer was airlifted to The Alfred hospital with serious injuries in a stable condition.
The alleged gunman has reportedly taken his wife and at least one child into the bush near his home and is holding them hostage.
It is believed he is armed with at least one of the police officer’s firearms.
Special Operations Group officers are heading to the scene and police helicopters are circling the area.
Police negotiators have been called in and officers from the NSW Special Operations Group are also on their way to help.
Suspect described as ‘sovereign citizen’
It is believed the alleged gunman describes himself as a sovereign citizen — a person who subscribes to anti-government ideology and thinks they are above the law.
He is believed to be known to police and has been in and out of court for driving offences, traffic offences and not abiding by police orders.
Victoria Police said the situation is still “active” and has asked people to avoid the area.
“We will provide more information when it’s operationally safe to do so,” police said.
The Police Association Victoria said it was aware of a “critical incident” impacting its members.
“We have sent critical incident support teams to the area to assist and support the impacted members, their families and colleagues,” a spokesperson said.
“We received news that we needed to go into a lockdown, that an indent was happening in town,” she said.
“The department of education has done a great job in making sure that we do drills and we make sure we’ve got the great procedures in place so that we can keep kids really safe and keep them calm during times like this.”
Gillies said Porepunkah was a tight-knit community that would come together in the wake of the tragedy.
“Things that do happen take their toll on the community but we do rally around each other and it’s a very supportive community,” she said.
Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan said she had been briefed by the Victoria Police Chief Commissioner on the unfolding situation.
She said all first responders display “extraordinary bravery and courage every single day”.
“They are the best of us — and the thoughts of all Victorians are with them today,” she said.
“Please follow the advice of Victoria Police and avoid the area.
“More information will be provided as it becomes available.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his thoughts were with the police officers involved.
“There are reports from Victoria … about an active incident that has been underway there. There are grave concerns for some of the police officers who are involved,” he said.
“Our thoughts are with the police for the work that they do each and every day.
“The men and women who … wear the uniform of the police force take risks each and every day.”
Australian Federal Police commissioner Reece Kershaw also commented on the unfolding situation.
“We hope that they are all safe and well however we’re hearing that there are some grave concerns for some of those police officers and our hearts go out to the community,” Kershaw said.
Porepunkah is a small town with a population of about 1,000 people.
It is located 6km northwest of Bright and is the nearest town to Mount Buffalo National Park.
