Police helicopter audio has revealed details of the intense siege that unfolded at a rural property west of Brisbane in the hours after two police officers and a nearby resident were gunned down.
The audio reveals the moments the police helicopter, PolAir, guides the team on the ground as the three offenders — later identified as brothers Nathaniel and Gareth Train, and Gareth's wife Stacey Train — were holed up at a Wieambilla property and continued to fire bullets.
The six-hour siege on Monday night began after four police officers arrived at about 4:30pm to follow up on a missing person report from NSW about Nathaniel Train.
As they approached, Constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold were fatally shot during an ambush.
Neighbour Alan Dare, who went out to investigate fires on the property, was also shot dead.
Constable Randall Kirk was also injured by the armed trio, but he and Constable Keely Brough were able to escape and call for help.
An emergency declaration was announced for the area, as 16 frontline officers and the Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) swarmed the property over the following several hours.
PolAir officers directed their SERT colleagues as they moved in on the Trains, who were described in the recordings as people of interest (POI).
White side and black side is terminology used by the PolAir crew as a location reference for the SERT officers on the ground.
The audio reveals how the siege unfolded, but the exact time frame of the recording is unclear and does not capture the entire event.
Offenders fire on police
Both male, both armed and both discharging rounds towards white side.
Both males are down beside the couch and still with weapons pointing white side.
The female unsighted.
POI 1, Main POI 1 (inaudible) weapons at the back of the utility.
POI 1 with the one rifle now at the driver's door.
Shots fired; further shots fired.
Pointing their weapons white side. Discharging them.
(Inaudible) POI now at the rear of the vehicle, and facing black side, weapons facing black side.
The female POI is unsighted. It is unknown where she is.
Both POIs now weapons are facing white side and as you can see there, they've got the spotlight on top of the utility and discharging weapons white side.
Single male discharging his weapon, so main POI discharging the weapon has moved to the rear of the utility. The second male is sitting on the stairs, on the red side stairs.
From what I'm looking at the main POI is obtaining rounds and loading the weapon from the rear of the utility.
POI back open driver's door, weapons resting on the door. Weapons facing white side. Weapons discharging white side.
(Inaudible) I am not sure if you are getting my transmissions, but the offenders are on red side and the weapons have discharged towards white side (inaudible).
So, the main POI is now at the rear of the utility, and it would appear he has a number of cartridges on the rear tray and that is where he is reloading his weapon.
Ahhh unable to ascertain that. We're not getting a response from our (inaudible). There have been no indicators. The second male POI is sitting on the stairs on the red side access stairs. The female is unsighted, assumed to be (inaudible).
PolAir to SERT, no change. POI 1 appears to be reloading weapons from the rear tray of the vehicle.
PolAir to SERT, POI 1 back at driver's door, driver door is open, POI remains outside the vehicle.
PolAir to SERT, weapon is now facing white side; weapon is back being discharged facing towards white side copy.
Yeah PolAir 1, sorry this is PolAir 2, a number of shots going off there. Continually every five seconds.
POI 1 is now back rear tray of the vehicle and POI 2 remains on the red side stairs.
PolAir to SERT, we are not sure but he may have discharged around towards black side. Unconfirmed.
PolAir to SERT, second POI back at the couch facing white side and POI 1 back at the driver's side of the vehicle.
PolAir to SERT, we're happy that we've seen a pair of legs in the red side balcony so assume that's the POI female.
'Female down'
PolAir to SERT, POI 2 still moving.
PolAir to SERT, looks to us like POI 2 is now on his back.
PolAir to SERT, POI 2 still movement, still movement from POI 2.
PolAir to SERT, no movement from number one. Still movement from number two.
Number two is still moving on the couch. Number one, no movement.
PolAir to SERT, no change. No movement from number 1 …
PolAir to SERT, so we do have movement from number 2.
To SERT, so female down. Female down.
PolAir to SERT, two dogs coming white side, two dogs coming to you, white side.
PolAir to SERT, there's still movement from number 2. Still lots of movement from number 2 on the couch.
PolAir to SERT, so shots fired from number 2 towards white side.
PolAir to SERT, still have moment from number 2, he's on the couch on his back, facing directly upwards. Still has movement.
PolAir to SERT, no change still movement from number 2. On his back, facing upwards.
'I don't have movement at the moment'
PolAir to SERT, so POI number 2 still discharging rounds. Number 1 and female are down. No movement. Number 1 and female are down. No movement.
On the couch, still moving. On the couch, face towards white side. Still movement.
PolAir to SERT, number 2 on the couch. One (inaudible) down.
Two's moving, down on the ground beside the vehicle.
Standing up.
Number 2 is down. Still has movement. Dropping to the ground.
(Inaudible) hand side the vehicle.
PolAir to SERT, he's down on the ground. (Inaudible) facing the vehicle, no movement.
PolAir to SERT, we have movement on number 2. Number 2's not moving
PolAir to SERT, still have movement of number 2. Down on the ground, laying on his left-hand side, behind the couch, facing the vehicle.
PolAir to SERT, no change. The movement has semi reduced, and I can actually see.
PolAir to SERT, I don't have movement at the moment.
PolAir SERT, no movement from number 2. No movement from number 2.
All three people of interest, Nathaniel, Gareth and Stacey Train were fatally shot by specialist police at the scene at about 10:30pm on Monday, police said.
Commissioner Katarina Carroll said every element of the attack, including whether the officers were lured to the remote property, and the police response would be thoroughly investigated.
Tributes continue to be held for the fallen officers and Mr Dare.
The two surviving officers' recovery is ongoing.
