A 60-YEAR-OLD man is in custody after allegedly opening fire with two rifles in a terrifying random attack on a busy Sydney street, wounding at least 20 people. New South Wales police have ruled out any connection to terrorism or gang-related activity.
AFP reported that the incident unfolded on Sunday evening in the Inner West suburb of the city, where the alleged gunman is said to have fired between 50 and 100 rounds at passing vehicles and police officers from a unit above a business.
“It was frantic. It all happened so quick, so I couldn't comprehend what was going on,” said local office worker Joe Azar, who witnessed the chaos from across the road. “Some guy's windshield blew up, then the bus stop glass shattered,” he told The Sydney Morning Herald.
Emergency services responded swiftly, with a large police presence locking down the area before storming the premises and arresting the suspect.
Two rifles were seized at the scene. The man sustained injuries during his arrest and is currently receiving hospital treatment. No charges have yet been laid.
Police confirmed that one man presented at hospital with a gunshot wound and remains in serious condition. A further 19 people suffered injuries from shrapnel and broken glass, several of whom were also hospitalised.
New South Wales Police Acting Superintendent Stephen Parry estimated that “anywhere between 50 and 100 shots” were fired. Commissioner Mal Lanyon described the shooting as “serious and terrifying” during a radio interview on Monday, adding, “There are no known links to terrorism activity or any gang activity.”
A witness identified only as Tadgh told ABC News he was watching a rugby match nearby when the gunfire began. “It was very loud—'bang, bang, bang'—and flash-bangs and sparks and smoke and the whole works. It was something out of a movie, really,” he said.
The motive behind the attack remains unclear as police continue their investigation.
Mass shootings remain rare in Australia, where strict gun control laws have been in place since 1996, following the Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania that claimed 35 lives. - October 6, 2025
