Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
As we go to where police are throwing all their
resources at the manhunt for a coal blooded gunman who
executed two of their own and injured a third officer
at a rural property in Victoria. Today we are learning
new details about the killer, a so called sovereign citizen
with a hatred for law and order. We have comprehensive
(00:26):
coverage right across this hour. Let's go first to our
reporter Casie Zervos in Poorpunker Cassie, it's been more than
twenty four hours since this deadly ambush.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
It has tasha where I'm standing right now, it's about
two and a half kilometers from where the alleged gunman,
Daisy Freeman, opened fire yesterday, killing it two police officers
and injuring a third. I just want to show you
behind me the huge police presence here today. We've got
marked and unmarked police vehicles who have traveled from Melbourne
to be here. They are throwing all their resources at this,
(00:57):
and of course members from the Special Operations Group as well.
You can see the SOG helicopter is grounded at the moment,
but we have been told it is ready to take
off at any moment. They have been receiving briefings overnight
and this morning as well receiving fresh intelligence as to
where this gunman could be hiding out. We heard from
the Chief Commissioner earlier today who said, this is a
(01:19):
man who is heavily armed, who is dangerous, and who
knows the bushland.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Like the back of his hand.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Let's take a listen to what he had to say,
describing it yesterday as one of the darkest days Victoria
Police has ever seen.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
I will also like to assure people that we are
putting every piece of support around the families of the
officers that have passed and this tragic event. I'm fully
aware that a number of people know the identity of
(01:57):
those officers, those brave and fine offices. We will endeavor
to share the names and details of those officers later today.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
And Cassie, what more do we know about this suspect?
Speaker 2 (02:16):
What's Harshi's name is Desi Freeman. He is a so
called sovereign citizen who has been in trouble with the
law before.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
In twenty twenty one, we saw he.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Was arrested at a protest and he's also caused chaos
within our court system as well. He's a man who
has described to police as a terrorist and has caused
them havoc in recent years as well. But as to
what unfolded yesterday and how it turns so horribly wrong
will be investigated. We understand the police members who were tragically.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Killed had their body worn at.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Cameras on, so that will also form part of the investigation.
But what is making this search so difficult for police
as well is, of course these weather conditions. You can
probably see and hear. The rain hasn't stopped overnight. There's
a thick black fog circling around the bushland as well.
We are told that police are using special intelligence like
infrared heat maps to find this man and they will
(03:11):
not stop until they do so. But right now, Tash,
there is a warning for everyone in town to stay inside.
The active shooter is still on the run, still armed
and still dangerous. We will bring you our updates, of course,
as soon as they come to light.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Cassie, appreciate the update, Thank you well. Next to Nick
McCallum and Nick, the small tourist town remains in lockdown.
As we heard there from Cassie, pretty strong advice for
residents to remain indoors.
Speaker 5 (03:39):
That's right, Tash where only a couple one hundred meters
from the main police roadblock. And this small town there's
only one thousand residents, is normally very sleepy. Today you'd
call it a ghost town. There is virtually no one
here in the main street now. All people here received
a message of phone message from police at ten eleven
(04:01):
this morning. We received it too, and it said there's
an active armed defender in the general area of Poor Punker.
Police request you stay at home and avoid unnecessary travel.
That's gone to just about everyone in the town this morning,
and also there was a similar message last night as well.
You can imagine the locals are in shock at what
(04:22):
had happened. So many of them knew the local police,
so many of them new Deasy Freeman as well. Let's
have a listen to his neighbor.
Speaker 6 (04:33):
I guess Poor Punk is in shock.
Speaker 5 (04:37):
Now.
Speaker 6 (04:38):
I know from what I've seen on social media. Our
hearts are going out to the police officers who lost
their lives yesterday. And I guess we don't. We never
really thought that something like this would happen in Poor
Punk Are of all places. Well, so we're I'm actually
on the farm right next door where the incident happened.
We were out doing our usual farm work spraying, and
(05:02):
all of a sudden you hear a few ambulance sirens
and you think, oh, yeah, that's that doesn't sound good.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
Yeah, look, poor Punker is very small.
Speaker 6 (05:11):
Everyone knows everyone. I picked up Daisy a few times
and drop him off at home. You know, he seemed
like a normal sort of a bloke to talk to
on a day to day basis. And I know his family,
like the kids go to school, they grow up with
other kids. His wife plays in a band and she's lovely.
(05:33):
So very tragic for everyone involved.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
Because we heard just there. It's a small, tight knit
community there. Two police officers were killed, another injured, and
the gunman alleged gunman still at large. A very concerning
time for the local community there.
Speaker 4 (05:51):
It is.
Speaker 5 (05:52):
You may be able to see behind me the petrol
station in town. Now, a whole lot of cars, mainly
police cars and media cars, have pulled up to get
petrol this morning. But the few locals who have appeared
here have spoken to us and they said they this
morning woke up and they actually locked their doors, and
they closed their blinds and locked their windows and they say,
(06:15):
we never do this in a town like poor Punker,
so they are concerned. So many of them, as you've
just heard, new Desi freemen. In fact, we spoke to
one who said that Desi was renowned as a bushman
in the area. He knows all the high country around
here very well. There are enormous numbers of caves. It
(06:37):
is very densely covered with bush, so he would imagine
it's going to be a very tough task for police. Also,
he knew the local police officers. One of the local
police officers who was killed yesterday said he was renowned
for turning up to the local footy and being involved
in the community. So the entire community here is in shock.
(07:00):
They say they're not scared at this stage because of
the enormous number of police. But obviously this town it
will take a long time to recover from.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
This, understandably, so Nick, thank you so much. Let's go
now to that breaking news and a school bus has
rolled in Victoria. There are unconfirmed reports one child has
been killed. Let's get straight to our reporter Blake Johnson,
who joins us Now live from the scene, Like, what's
the latest information you have for us? This afternoon, Tash,
(07:32):
hello to you.
Speaker 7 (07:32):
We have some new information just in on some of
the injuries. We have been told by Ambulance Victoria that
ten children on that bus have been taken to hospital,
five in Geelong and five to the Royal Children's Hospital
in Melbourne. It was quite a significant paramedic response to
two air ambulance helicopters and six paramedic crews on the
ground attended this crash, which happened around eight point twenty
(07:54):
this morning. I should be noted that those casualties are
the only ones that we've been able to confirm with
police so far. The school bus belongs to Christian College.
Up to forty children were on boardman at rolled and
we believe it may have caught fire there on the
Hamilton Highway, just on the outskirts the western side of Geelong.
At this stage, the road is still closed, there are
roadblocks in place and the scene is still very much active.
(08:15):
We're at a roadblock at the moment, so the crash
scene is about a can a half further north from
where we are at the moment. But as we know,
ten children have been injured, a couple taken by road
and at least too taken by helicopter to hospitals in
Gelong and in Melbourne.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
Tasha Blake Johnson, thank you. Let's go to Developing News
this afternoon, and a crane has collapsed at a construction
site in Melbourne. It happened in Derrimit around ten thirty
this morning. Workers were seen bolting across the road as
it came crashing down. All emergency services right now on
that scene and paramedics have also assessed one person. Can
(08:52):
you figures just into the newsroom this afternoon. At the
latest glance at the state of our economy, monthly inflation
has increased to two point eight percent in July, up
from one point nine percent in June. Among the main
drivers spikes in the cost of housing and also food.
Also another significant player the end of an energy bill
rebate which had been in play for several states to
(09:15):
keep the price of household electricity down. Time is running
out for a Rans ambassador to leave the country, ordered
to get out after it was revealed Tehran orchestrated anti
Semitic terror attacks in both Sydney and Melbourne. Let's go
live to our political reporter Isabel Mullen at the Iranian
Embassy is you have some breaking news for us this afternoon.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
Yes, I do, Tash.
Speaker 8 (09:39):
We can show you exclusive pictures of Iran's ambassador leaving
his home here in Canberra.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
You can see him surrounded by staff.
Speaker 8 (09:48):
They arrive with empty boxes, presumably they're about to pack
up his belongings.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
The time is really.
Speaker 8 (09:54):
Running out for Ahmedzadigi to leave the country.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
He was given seventy.
Speaker 8 (09:59):
Two hours to get out by our Prime Ministry yesterday.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
As we go to air this.
Speaker 8 (10:03):
Afternoon, he's inside the embassy of Iran right now, so
we assume he'll be heading off to the airport soon.
But that move by the Prime Ministry yesterday was unprecedented.
We haven't seen a call like that for an ambassador
to leave Australia since the end of the Second World War,
when Japan's ambassador was told to get out. But it
(10:24):
comes after Anthony Alberanizi and Azi Oboss Mike Burgess.
Speaker 3 (10:29):
Found that Iran was linked to terror to terror.
Speaker 8 (10:33):
Attacks here on Australian soil, finding that Iran funded and
organized them. They outlined two identified two in particular, the
first at Melbourne's at US Israel Synagogue, the second at
a cafe in Bondai. It's caused a lot of upset
within the Jewish community. The Iranian military group, the revolutionarygard
(10:57):
now deemed a terror organization. The blame game in Canberra
this afternoon in full swing, the Coalition pointing its fingers
straight at Labor, saying it was worned two and a
half years ago that this group should be deemed a
terrorist organization. Here's Michaulia Cash.
Speaker 9 (11:15):
We demanded action two and a half years ago. The
Iranian community here in Australia demanded action two and a
half years ago, and this government did nothing. You signed
a letter a letter here. It is giving every excuse
in the world.
Speaker 10 (11:32):
I know that Senator Cash does defaulter angry voice very
very often. We have put more sanctions and taken more
a decisive action, stronger action against Iran than ever occurred
while she was Attorney General.
Speaker 8 (11:49):
There is bipartisan support for that group to be deemed
a terrorist organization.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
We are expecting some movement here shortly.
Speaker 8 (11:57):
The ambassador, as I said earlier, expected to head to
the airport. I'm told our diplomats in Tehran they have
been moved to another country. We're also told that they
are safe, but any Australians that are working or holidaying
in Iran have been told to get out Iran, rejecting
these allegations from our government and warning they will retaliate.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
Tush is it thank you well. For a singer who's
written so much about falling in and out of love,
her engagement was always going to be super special. Taylor
Swift today announcing that she is getting married to boyfriend
Travis Kelsey. The NFL player got down on one knee
to pop the question to his pop star fiance. US
(12:39):
correspondent Rob Scott reports on everything we know at this stage,
from the dazzling ring to potential wedding plans.
Speaker 11 (12:48):
After watching this relationship blossom over the past two years,
today was the day that swifties the world over had
been waiting for. The pop princess and the football star
are getting married a golden couple, making the announcement on
Instagram this morning with the caption your English teacher and
your gym teacher are getting married, complete with photos of
(13:09):
the romantic garden proposal and the huge, vintage inspired diamond ring.
The engagement making headlines across the globe.
Speaker 5 (13:17):
Some colossal breaking us into CNN.
Speaker 11 (13:21):
It's a love story and Bbes, she just said yes,
even interrupting the US.
Speaker 4 (13:27):
Open Taylor Swift is engaged like a new record or
she is.
Speaker 7 (13:31):
Engaged to be She's going to get.
Speaker 11 (13:33):
Married and making it all the way to Donald Trump's
cabinet meeting.
Speaker 5 (13:37):
I think he's a great player, I think he's a
great guy, and I think that she's a terrific person.
Speaker 4 (13:44):
So I wish there were a lot alone.
Speaker 11 (13:45):
Swifties couldn't control their excitement.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
My jaw dropped, stomach dropped, everything dropped.
Speaker 11 (13:51):
The news came just thirteen days Taylor's favorite number, after
she appeared on Travis and his Brother's podcast where she
announced her new album is on the way, giving a
glimpse into their fairytale love story.
Speaker 9 (14:04):
This is sort of what I've been writing songs about
wanting to happen to me since I was a teenager.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
Yes.
Speaker 11 (14:15):
Yes, A couple of big questions still to answer. When
are they getting married? And will Taylor just have one
wedding dress or will she have multiple changes like she
does during her shows.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
Rob thank you well. A quick check of the weather
details for this Wednesday, Sonny for Brisbane twenty eight, clouding
for Sydney, twenty two charles on the top of fifteen
for both canber and Melbourne. Charlotteto on the way for Hobart,
fifteen fourteen degrees in charles for Adelaide, Charles also increasing
for Perth the top of seventeen. Mostly fine for Dama
in a beautiful thirty two degrees and we'll have the
(14:50):
full weather forecast later this hour.