Arabic version: الشرطة ترفع إعلان الطوارئ في إيمو بارك

Police have lifted an emergency declaration that closed a neighbourhood in Emu Park, central Queensland, after officers found no firearms or evidence of shots being fired.

According to ABC News, police declared a public emergency at 1:40pm on Saturday following reports of shots being fired on Granville Street in Emu Park, east of Rockhampton. The area within Pattison Street, Granville Street, William Street and Hill Street was closed to the public under the Public Safety Preservation Act, and residents were urged to stay indoors. Police revoked the emergency declaration at 3:20pm after officers confirmed there were no firearms located and no shots had been fired. No-one was injured, and a police spokesperson described the incident as mental health-related.

Police used the Public Safety Preservation Act (PSPA) powers to close the defined perimeter while officers conducted searches and checks. The declaration and the perimeter closure were put in place to allow a targeted police response to reports of an incident in the Granville Street area.

When officers completed searches of the area and checked for weapons and evidence of shots fired, they were unable to locate any firearms or confirm that shots had been discharged. Based on those on-scene findings, police revoked the emergency declaration at 3:20pm and the closure was lifted.

Police said no injuries resulted from the incident. A police spokesperson characterised the matter as mental health-related, and authorities returned the neighbourhood to routine status once their enquiries and safety checks were completed.

Normal public access to the neighbourhood has been restored following the revocation of the emergency declaration and the completion of police checks that found no weapons or evidence of shots fired. Officers remained on scene while the situation was resolved and the area reopened to residents and visitors.

Related sections: Australia/استراليا | Queensland | General | Social/إجتماعية