Four teen boys in custody after reports of shots fired in Tara
Four teenage boys have been arrested after reports of gunfire sparked an emergency declaration in the Queensland town of Tara.
Some residents had been evacuated after reports of shots were fired in the town, which is located right beside Wieambilla, where two police officers were killed just months ago.
Just after midnight (1am on Thursday AEDT), police said the emergency declaration had been revoked and four boys, aged 14, 15, 16, and 16, had been taken into custody without incident.
They’re currently assisting with investigations, police said.
No one was injured in the incident, which began around 3.30pm (4.30pm AEDT) when a civilian vehicle was shot at on Smallacombe Street.
Police made an emergency declaration under the Public Safety Preservation Act about two hours later at 5.30pm (6.30pm AEDT).
The exclusion zone included Surat Development Road, Day Street, Benn Street, Fry Street and Milne Street.
“Specialist police, PolAir and multiple crews from the region are continuing to respond to the ongoing incident,” Queensland Police said about 7.30pm (8.30pm AEDT).
“Several residents have been evacuated. Police urge those within the exclusion zone to remain indoors and for people to refrain from entering the exclusion zone.
“No further information is available at this stage.”
The declaration was lifted about 11.30pm (12.30am Thursday AEDT).
Tara is about 45km south of Wieambilla, where two officers, Constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold, were killed in an ambush at a property in December.
Alan Dare, who lived at a neighbouring property, was also slain in the shoot-out.
McCrow and Arnold were stationed in Tara when they were murdered in the shooting.
