As many as 17 people were injured on a busy shopping street in Sydney, Australia, after a gunman opened indiscriminate fire from his apartment window on Sunday, police said.
Acting Superintendent of Police Stephen Parry said, “The suspected individual fired between 50 and 100 rounds from a high-calibre rifle, striking both people and vehicles.”
He added that the suspect was arrested after two hours, following a police search of the building. The 60-year-old was taken into custody and his weapon recovered, though the motive for the shooting remains unknown.
Among the injured, a man in his 50s sustained gunshot wounds to his neck and chest and was rushed to hospital for treatment. Sixteen others were treated at the scene for injuries largely caused by shattered glass.
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“It is unprecedented for Sydney to experience something like this, with such a large number of shots fired,” said New South Wales Acting Assistant Commissioner Trent King on Monday.
“We are very fortunate that there was not more damage, more injuries, or indeed fatalities,” he added.
Gun violence in developed nations has long been a concern that needs to be addressed; lenient weapon ownership regulations have resulted in numerous cases of gun-related incidents. Hundreds have lost their lives in such incidents, particularly in the US, the UK, France, Germany, Canada, and Australia.
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