Western Australia: A major police operation is underway in the Peel region following reports of a gunman on the loose. Authorities were alerted at approximately 11:40 a.m. on Tuesday after receiving reports of a man armed with a firearm in Pinjarra, around 84 km south of Perth.
The residential area near Wilson Road and Sibbald Street was quickly locked down as heavily armed officers from WA Police’s Tactical Response Group moved into position along the back fence lines of properties on Teague Street, which border the local football oval. A police helicopter has been patrolling the skies above the area, focusing its attention on the residential sector just outside the town centre.
Witnesses described the scene as chaotic. One resident, who requested anonymity, said they saw a man fleeing from a nearby property. “It was like bobble heads in the backyard. There were cops in every backyard,” they said. “They’ve got every street blocked off.”
WA Police urged residents in the vicinity to follow all instructions from officers. “Further information will be provided as it comes to hand,” a police spokeswoman said. St John WA confirmed they had not been called to the scene.
As a precaution, the Shire of Murray has secured its facilities, including the Murray Aquatic and Leisure Centre, the Murray Library, and the shire’s administration office, while the police operation continues.
This incident marks the second gun-related alert in the region this week. Last Wednesday, a woman in her 40s was shot in the hand with a long-arm firearm north of Mullewa in the Mid West. Authorities have not indicated any connection between the two events.
The current manhunt is focused on 58-year-old Kenneth John Giles, described by police as an experienced bushman. Giles is believed to have fled eastward in a white Nissan Patrol, registration 1BIY336. He is not a licensed firearms holder. Police have allocated extensive resources to locate him and urge anyone with information to contact authorities immediately.
The situation remains fluid, with residents in the area advised to stay indoors and comply with all police directions.
