SYDNEY, May 29 (Xinhua) -- A man has been arrested following a shooting in a rural Australian town that forced schools and businesses to close and a hospital to restrict access.
Police in the state of Queensland said in a statement on Wednesday night that a 25-year-old man has been charged with 30 offenses after a number of gunshots were allegedly fired into a property in the town of Kingaroy, about 150 km northwest of Brisbane, in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
The incident triggered a major police search for the gunman, with access to the Kingaroy hospital restricted and schools and businesses advised to close while the search was ongoing.
The Queensland Police Service (QPS) said that the man was taken into custody by specialist officers around 1:30 p.m. local time on Wednesday.
He has been charged with 30 offenses, including acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm, dangerous conduct with a weapon and attempting to enter a dwelling with intent whilst armed.
QPS Superintendent Douglas McDonald told reporters on Wednesday night that a woman who was inside the property at the time of the shooting was uninjured and was assisting police.
He said that the 25-year-old was found in possession of a "number of high-powered rifles" at the time of his arrest, which were allegedly stolen in the 24 hours prior to the shooting. ■
