A man will face court today charged with numerous offences after a siege situation at Windang yesterday.
Just before 9.30am (Sunday 28 November 2021), officers attached to Lake Illawarra Police District were called to Windang Road, Windang, following reports of shots fired.
Police were told a man – armed with two firearms – had fired a number of shots at passing vehicles and pedestrians, before barricading himself inside a nearby dive shop.
The store owner was initially held inside the premises by the man, before being released safely and without injury.
Officers from Lake Illawarra and Wollongong Police Districts, with assistance from the Tactical Operations Unit (TOU), Police Negotiators and Dog Unit, established a perimeter.
Following negotiations, a 40-year-old man surrendered to police and was taken into custody just before 10.30am. He was taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station.
A crime scene was established at the dive shop, and at a home at Windang, which was examined by specialist forensic officers and police from the Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit.
During a search of the home, officers located and seized two unsecured firearms, five gel blaster firearms, military knives, six replica handguns, a police uniform, and child abuse material.
The Windang man was charged with fire firearm at dwelling-house with disregard for safety, fire firearm manner likely injure persons/property, take/detain person with intent to obtain advantage, use unregistered firearm – prohibited firearm, not keep firearm safely – not pistol/prohibited firearm, and possess child abuse material.
The man was refused bail and is due to appear at Wollongong Local Court today (Monday 29 November 2021).
