Police tell suspect to ring triple zero as they will ‘support a surrender plan’
Brett Kahan goes on to directly address Dezi Freeman, in case he is watching the press conference:
If Dezi Freeman is watching this, ring triple zero, and we will support a surrender plan, that option is absolutely open to him.
Victoria police are working through a strategic resourcing plan in anticipation of the search continuing into the weekend, Russell Barrett says.
He says the messaging for locals is not to stay inside, but to “be vigilant”.
Asked how he anticipates the situation will unfold in the coming days, he says:
I hope safely. I hope for the arrest of Dezi Freeman and [to] bring him to justice for our members.
This is one of the more or the most difficult matters that I’ve dealt with and one of the most difficult matters in Victoria police’s history. The community support goes a long way to helping us work our way through it … Thank you.
Updated at 00.20 EDT
Key events
Show key events only
Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature
Day three: what we know so far
The manhunt continues for Dezi Freeman, a 56-year-old so-called “sovereign citizen” accused of killing two police officers and injuring another in Porepunkah.
Here’s everything you need to know as the search enters its third day:
Updated at 01.35 EDT
Benita Kolovos
Premier and police minister met with Thompson’s partner
The police minister, Anthony Carbines, has also spoken in question time in the Victorian parliament on the deaths of Det Leading Sen Const Neal Thompson, 59, and Sen Const Vadim de Waart, 35, in the Porepunkah shooting.
He says the community has united behind police, inundating stations with “cards, chocolates and flowers”, laying wreaths at the police memorial on St Kilda Road, lighting up buildings across Melbourne in blue and flying flags at half mast. Carbines goes on:
Many of us have seen the moving footage of the impromptu guard of honour of police honouring their fallen colleagues. I know Police Association Secretary Wayne Gatt has also been up in the north-east, visiting stations, talking to members, ensuring they have the support that they need.
Police Legacy have established a remembrance fund to support the families of those officers that have been lost as a result of this unspeakable crime and Victorians have given generously already.
Carbines reveals that he, alongside the premier, Jacinta Allan, and chief commissioner of police, Mike Bush, met with Thompson’s partner Lisa today. He said Lisa is also a police officer:
It was a privilege, alongside the premier and chief commissioner Bush, to spend some time today with Mr Thompson’s partner, Lisa, also a serving officer of Victoria police.
We pay our deepest respects to these officers and their families, and we wish our police members who continue to hunt a dangerous fugitive and armed offender, every success in their work.
Updated at 01.19 EDT
Benita Kolovos
Victoria’s premier begins question time acknowledging Porepunkah community
For the third consecutive day, Victoria’s premier, Jacinta Allan, has used a ministerial statement in the state parliament’s question time to acknowledge the community of Porepunkah.
She says the community were currently living “under the long and heavy shadow of unthinkable tragedy”. Allan went on:
I want to acknowledge that for the community of Porepunkah, that life is far from easy right now, that nothing is ordinary, that every part of their daily life is touched by fear, it is touched by uncertainty, and for so many it’s touched by grief.
Allan says grief in a small town “is never contained”. Instead, she says it “spreads like smoke through the air, it ripples outwards and it touches everyone”. But she says they will “not carry it alone”:
Our government, this parliament and every single Victorian stands with Porepunkah. We stand too with Victoria police, we stand with those families and those emergency services, who are out there again today, in the cold, in the rain, in dangerous conditions, who are working day and night to see justice delivered, to keep this beautiful community safe and indeed, every corner of this great state safe.
Updated at 01.00 EDT
Cait Kelly
Police warn residents not to approach Dezi Freeman if they see him
Police have warned residents in the surrounding area again about approaching Dezi Freeman if they see him.
In a text, police said:
Message from Victoria Police. Specialist police continue to search for Desmond Freeman (Filby) who is armed and dangerous. If you see Desmond, call 000 immediately but do not approach him.
Victoria Police request you remain vigilant and avoid travel through Porepunkah, unless essential.
Updated at 01.01 EDT
Cait Kelly
Dezi Freeman knows bushland better than ‘cops know their own backyards’, local says
The sun is finally shining in Porepunkah, making the search conditions a litter easier.
But a blanket of cloud is still hanging over most of the Mount Buffalo plateau.
A police helicopter has been circling the ridge near the property where the shooting took place for about the last hour.
Another Bearcat, the heavily armoured vehicles the special ops use, was seen entering the area that has been blocked off.
Another resident, who lives close to the property, said suspected gunman Dezi Freeman could hide out in this huge area for days.
Look around, this is his backyard. And he knows it better than the cops know their own backyards.
Updated at 01.35 EDT
PM offers condolences to families of police officers killed in Porepunkah
Krishani Dhanji
Before the lower house gets into question time, Anthony Albanese offers his condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the two police officers killed in Victoria, and the third officer who was injured and remains in hospital.
Albanese says he’s told the Victorian government that the federal government “stands ready” to provide support where needed.
Right now the Victoria police are still engaged in their search for the killer at the centre of these terrible events … I’ve been speaking regularly with Victoria premier Jacinta Allan, and the commonwealth stands ready to provide any support now or in the future.
I understand in these raw early days, the close knit community of Porepunkah is grappling with the sense of horror and also disbelief.
The events are a “sombre reminder”, says Albanese, of the dangers police officers face every day to keep communities safe.
I say it not just on behalf of this parliament, but as Australia’s prime minister on behalf of every Australian. Detective leading senior constable Neal Thompson was a hero. Senior constable Vadim De Waart was a hero. They’ll be honoured and remembered as heroes by Victoria police, by Victorians, by all of us and all Australians.
Updated at 00.37 EDT
Police tell suspect to ring triple zero as they will ‘support a surrender plan’
Brett Kahan goes on to directly address Dezi Freeman, in case he is watching the press conference:
If Dezi Freeman is watching this, ring triple zero, and we will support a surrender plan, that option is absolutely open to him.
Victoria police are working through a strategic resourcing plan in anticipation of the search continuing into the weekend, Russell Barrett says.
He says the messaging for locals is not to stay inside, but to “be vigilant”.
Asked how he anticipates the situation will unfold in the coming days, he says:
I hope safely. I hope for the arrest of Dezi Freeman and [to] bring him to justice for our members.
This is one of the more or the most difficult matters that I’ve dealt with and one of the most difficult matters in Victoria police’s history. The community support goes a long way to helping us work our way through it … Thank you.
Updated at 00.20 EDT
Police say anyone harbouring fugitive will be prosecuted for criminal offence
Russell Barrett is asked about recent raids that have been undertaken in properties near the township of Porepunkah, which we have brought to you on the live blog.
He says there are a “number of properties” that police are searching and a “number of inquiries open to us that we’re working through systematically”.
What I would say to the community and say to anyone who may be considering harbouring or supporting [Dezi Freeman], they need to reconsider. They’re committing a criminal offence, and we will prosecute them.
They believe the property he was living on is currently vacant; however, Dezi Freeman’s wife has been spoken to, and police are continuing to speak to her, Barrett says.
There have been no confirmed sightings of Freeman since he went missing.
Asked if they can shed light on what loud banging noises were that reporters heard yesterday evening, he replies:
No, I can’t.
Updated at 00.17 EDT
Police superintendent urges people heading to snow to avoid Porepunkah
Superintendent Brett Kahan urges anyone thinking of heading to the snow this weekend to “avoid Porepunkah”.
This is an area of significant police activity. There’s other alternative routes to the snow.
The township of Porepunkah would never have seen the number of police in and around that town every before, and that’s something we’ll continue to do until the area of activity shifts.
But it’s important for us to give that township and neighbouring townships some reassurance through some patrols that we’re also thinking of them … giving them reassurance that they are safe while this fugitive is at large is really important to us.
Superintendent Brett Kahan and deputy commissioner regional operations Russell Barrett. Photograph: Nine NewsShare
Updated at 00.14 EDT
Search for Dezi Freeman over ‘dangerous terrain’ will be ‘protracted’, police say
Russell Barrett says the “major police operation” is continuing with “every available asset” being used to attempt to locate Dezi Freeman.
We have assistance from other policing organisations here on the ground in an effort to quickly apprehend the offender.
That’s our purpose, and we will not rest until it occurs … We will not rest until we apprehend the offender.
He adds it is “fair to say we’ve got a protracted search” and it’s “really difficult terrain” that police are navigating.
It’s not something that we, even with our specialist resources, can move through quickly, because it’s dangerous terrain as well. So we will tread carefully through that terrain, because we obviously don’t want to put any of our members in danger.
Updated at 00.12 EDT
Deputy commissioner pays tribute to killed officers in press conference
Victoria police is holding a press conference in Wangaratta now.
Deputy commissioner regional operations Russell Barrett starts by paying tribute to the two officers that has lost their lives, one of whom, Neal Thompson, was only “a week or two” from retirement, and the other, Vadim De Waart, who was “looking forward to the future”.
He says conducting a warrant is what police do “every day” and “every member” can put themselves in the shoes of their two fallen colleagues.
It’s devastating, it’s hard to talk to.
The third officer who was injured is recovering from surgery in hospital, police confirm.
He’ll take some time to recover, but I acknowledge him and his family and the family of our two fallen members, just my absolute respect and deepest sympathies.
Updated at 00.07 EDT