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Wieambilla police say ‘not an act of terrorism’, Queensland coroner says
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Wieambilla police say ‘not an act of terrorism’, Queensland coroner says

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Three conspiracy theorists had shared their delusions but did not commit a terrorist act when they ambushed police in an attack that killed six people, a coroner says.
Nearly three years after the Wieambilla shootings shocked the nation, Queensland state coroner Terry Ryan presented his findings in Brisbane on Friday.
Brothers Nathaniel, 46, and Gareth Train, 47, used high-powered rifles to shoot officers Matthew Arnold, 26, and Rachel McCrow, 29, in a rural estate west of Brisbane on December 12, 2022.
During a judicial investigation last year, experts proved that the Treinen were engaged in terrorism that was religiously motivated by them extreme Christian beliefs.
Ryan said he accepted the evidence of psychiatric experts as to the Trains’ motives, saying the trio suffered from a “shared delusional disorder”.
“They were psychotically unwell and driven by their beliefs.”
But Ryan said it was not possible to conclude that the Trains had committed an act of terrorism under the definition of the Commonwealth Criminal Code.

A Christian premillennial belief in the end times had become central to the Trains’ belief system, but it was underpinned by broad psychiatric issues.

“Their beliefs – while incorrect – posed an extreme danger to any police who entered their property,” Ryan said.
“They believed that the government was evil and that police officers were demons who wanted to kill them.”
All three trains were shot dead hours later by specialist police officers after refusing to negotiate or surrender.

Queensland’s Special Emergency Response Team acted appropriately in using lethal force during a lengthy gun battle that lasted more than an hour, Ryan found.

“The Trains planned to kill police officers and die rather than be taken into custody,” Ryan said.
Officers Arnold and McCrow had attended the property on behalf of the NSW Police, along with fellow officers Randall Kirk and Keely Brough.

Nathaniel Train had been reported missing from his job as headmaster of a public primary school in northern NSW.

Officers Kirk and Brough narrowly escaped being killed by the trains.
NSW Police had not passed the full information in their computer system to Queensland Police when they requested assistance, Ryan found.
“I accept evidence from witnesses from NSW and Queensland that with police more information is always better,” Ryan said.

“Queensland officers would be given the opportunity for a more complete risk assessment.

Judy McCrow (left), mother of Rachel McCrow and Sue Arnold (right), mother of Matthew Arnold, outside the Brisbane Magistrate’s Court on Friday. Source: MONKEY / Darren England

“The officers who were present (Wieambilla) were denied that opportunity.”

Ryan failed to find that Queensland Police would definitively have done something differently if they had had more information from NSW Police about Gareth Train’s threatening behavior and beliefs.
Ryan also advised Queensland Police to review the extensive use of drones to gather information on remote properties.
He also called on Queensland to consider mandatory mental health assessments for people applying for a firearms permit, as at least some of the guns and ammunition used in Wieambilla are obtained lawfully.

#Wieambilla #police #act #terrorism #Queensland #coroner

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