Residents cleared out of homes as Sunnybank siege passes 20 hours
An emergency lockdown in Brisbane’s southside continues on Friday as police negotiate with an armed man who has been holed up in a home for more than 20 hours.
Police were initially called to the Dyson Street address in Sunnybank just before 10.30am on Thursday and established an exclusion zone soon after.
The exclusion zone was still in place on Friday, with police thanking residents for their cooperation and asking them to continue to follow the advice of emergency services.
Specialist police and negotiators remained at the scene but acting Inspector Mick Ackery said on Thursday afternoon he could provide little detail about the “dynamic and fluid” situation.
He confirmed only that the armed man was in the home with others and there had been no injuries, but would not comment on reports a child was among those in the house or that a gun was involved.
“We’re prepared to deal with the situation as long as it takes to ensure the safety of the community and anyone inside that house, and of course our officers,” Inspector Ackery said.
Mr Ackery said police had kept those affected residents up to date and the service had the capacity to arrange alternative overnight accommodation for residents evacuated from the exclusion zone.
The exclusion zone initially included the Banoon railway station but was later narrowed to a section of Dyson Avenue and Keats Street to the south-east, between the rail line and Beenleigh Road.
A Queensland police spokesman said on Thursday night those residents within the exclusion zone were believed to have been evacuated throughout the day.
Mr Ackery would not be drawn on the reason for police officers initially going to the Dyson Street address on Thursday morning.
Matt Dennien is a reporter with Brisbane Times.
Toby Crockford is a breaking news reporter at the Brisbane Times