Thanks for logging in.

You can now click/tap WATCH to start the live stream.

Thanks for logging in.

You can now click/tap LISTEN to start the live stream.

Thanks for logging in.

You can now click/tap LATEST NEWS to start the live stream.

LISTEN
Watch
on air now

Create a 3AW account today!

You can now log in once to listen live, watch live, join competitions, enjoy exclusive 3AW content and other benefits.


Joining is free and easy.

You will soon need to register to keep streaming 3AW online. Register an account or skip for now to do it later.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Victoria Police reveal what sparked peak hour chaos at Flagstaff station

3AW NEWS
Article image for Victoria Police reveal what sparked peak hour chaos at Flagstaff station

Victoria Police revealed the “suspicious behaviour” which sparked mass evacuation at Flagstaff station on Thursday morning was a busker with an instrument bag, not a gunman with a rifle.

Police say the man doing “breathing exercises” to prepare for his act, holding a bag containing a didgeridoo.

Will Austin, who is a part of an Indigenous organisation called Yarn Bark told Tom Elliott he was “swarmed by police” at the station this morning, but that he was simply carrying a didgeridoo.

The Chief Commissioner told Neil Mitchell what he found concerning is that train drivers were telling passengers there had been a gunman sighted, without confirming that as fact.

“We’ll have to follow that up,” he said.

“We need to be really clear about communications we put up.

“We don’t want people reacting in a way that might put their safety at risk.”

The emergency at Flagstaff station was cleared just before 9.30am.

The Chief Commissioner told Neil Mitchell the Critical Incident Response Team were called in after passengers spotted what was believed to be a rifle case.

“The team conducted a search of the train and were after that content that there was no firearm on the train,” CCP Ashton said.

Trains have been given the all clear to stop at city loop stations.

Click PLAY below to hear the details

The drama begun unfolding just before 8.30am, when trains were stopped and passengers were ordered off city loop services.

The station was evacuated and area searched.

“The train driver came over and said there was a man with a firearm at Flagstaff and police have asked the station be closed,” Naomi said, who was sitting on a train at Richmond station.

“There’s about three or four police cars here, and riot police,” Witness Andrew at Flagstaff said.

“They’re not letting people go into the station, they’re letting people get out.”

 

Image: Paddy Naughtin (Twitter)

 

3AW NEWS
Advertisement