Five people have been arrested following a ‘serious incident’ near an airport in Western Australia’s Midwest during which a man was taken to hospital with a gunshot wound.
Significant police resources were deployed early on Wednesday morning to Moonyoonooka, a rural locality east of Geraldton and about 4km from Geraldton Airport.
A man in his 30s was taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries at about 2am, around an hour before police issued an alert urging people to stay away from the area.
‘Police are currently responding to reports of a serious incident involving people known to each other in Moonyoonooka,’ a WA Police spokesperson said.
‘While this incident involves a firearm, there is no information to suggest an ongoing threat to the wider community.
‘Members of the public are not being asked to be alarmed; however they should remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to police.’
Police were also deployed to Utakarra, a suburb about 8km west of Moonyoonooka, where five people were arrested at about 10.30am local time. They are assisting with inquiries.
The deployment comes as witnesses reported seeing a convoy of police tactical response vehicles heading towards the area and police vans stationed at traffic control points.
Police have urged the public to stay away from Moonyoonooka following a ‘serious incident’
Significant police resources were deployed to the area, about 4km from Geraldton Airport
A convoy of armed police cars headed towards the area, which is about 415km north of Perth
ABC Perth caller Penny said she was driving south from Gingin at about 5.30am when she saw a convoy of police vehicles heading towards Moonyoonooka.
‘It was an [armoured police vehicle] and about six undercover LandCruisers with lights flashing,’ she said.
A local resident reported being jolted awake by a bang at around 1am.
‘It was a bang that woke me up,’ she told The West. ‘I checked outside and didn’t see anything, so I went back to bed.’
Geraldton Airport confirmed it is functioning as normal.
