police arrest gunman in melbourne
fer fucks sake.... this in melb...
Quote:
A STAR Wars fan carrying a space weapon prop triggered a big security scare in a busy Melbourne retail complex today, although many shoppers and workers were oblivious to any danger.
The 32-year-old Melbourne man was taken to the St Kilda Rd police headquarters for questioning after being arrested just outside the Southgate complex.
Arresting officer Sen-Constable Daniel Sage was among several officers who ordered the man to the ground on the Southgate Ave footpath, just before 11am as hundreds of workers watched the drama from offices in the IBM and HWT buildings.
"The male was carrying what appeared to a be a firearm, but it's been identified as an imitation at this stage," Sen-Constable Sage said.
When the Herald Sun Online arrived at the scene, police had taken the contents of the backpack out.
The replica gun appeared to have what resembled a battery pack connected to the gun by a coiled wire, while boots and a laptop were also in the bag.
The man was clad in black with unusual logos on his sleeve and breast pocket, and had what appeared to be a hands-free mobile phone earphone in one ear.
But police and security staff were not taking any chances with the man's space warrior look, instead handcuffing the man and taking him away in a police van.
Security officers at the Southgate complex were first alerted to the threat at 10.10am, when patrons of the Southgate Riverside Food Court saw what appeared to be a weapon poking from the man's backpack.
At first Fish Pond worker Ebony Pratt - who watched the man walk by the fish and chip shop outlet - said she did not believe her eyes.
"We saw him walk through the food court and then to the toilet, but then security guards covered all the exits and he went up the escalator," Ms Pratt said.
"I was just up the back here making salads, and I just thought, My God!"
"The security guards just told us to stand back."
Another worker who did not want to be named said she had been eating near the man before she saw the gun.
"I was sitting next to him eating breakfast," she said.
She would not say whether she had reported it to the police, but was clearly shaken by the incident.
"I've lived in the US for a quite a while, so it was a concern."
"At first I saw the gun and I thought he was one of those guys that play paintball."
But several other workers at the food court were surprised to hear about the incident, and were unaware of the drama until alerted by the Herald Sun Online.
Security officers followed the man through the centre and outside before police arrived, stripped the man of his backpack and handcuffed him.
Southgate Arts and Leisure Centre general manager Andrew Hughes said it was the first gun scare in the seven years he had held the post.
Security officers, with the help of surveillance cameras, had closely watched the man in the food court and immediately alerted police to ensure the safety of patrons and workers, Mr Hughes said.
The man has been released on a summons to appear on a charge of posessing an unregistered firearm.
It is understood the man was heading to a photo shoot to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Star Wars, before he was arrested, police said.
Police found a Star Wars costume in the man's back pack.
