Even in Australia, Porepunkah is a town few would have heard of before this week. Fewer still could pronounce it.
Nestled at the base of densely wooded mountains in the Australian Alps, it is home to about 1,000 people and beloved for its wineries, bushwalking and peaceful atmosphere – something which has now been shattered.
Choppers whir overhead. Kevlar-clad officers methodically patrol the town. Armoured vehicles roll down its streets. Porepunkah is now the centre of a massive manhunt for a heavily-armed man that police allege murdered two of their own in cold blood.
Officers went to Dezi Freeman's property on the outskirts of the rural Victorian town on Tuesday, with a warrant to search it. They were met with gunfire, before their alleged attacker – a sovereign citizen with a well-documented hatred of authority – vanished into nearby bushland.
The shooting – which appears hauntingly similar to an ambush of police in Queensland three years ago – has shocked the town and revived questions over how the country deals with growing sects of anti-government conspiracy theorists.
This is exactly the sort of thing that we've been fearing, says Joe McIntyre, who has spent years studying these groups in Australia.
Police were clearly expecting that this wasn't going to be a straightforward interaction. A detailed risk assessment had been conducted and 10 officers – a show of force – were tasked with executing the search warrant, reportedly relating to a sex crimes investigation.
Among them was a local detective from a nearby town who was on the brink of retirement. Neal Thompson was selected for the job because he'd had previous dealings with the target and was thought to have built rapport with him, The Age newspaper reported.
Within minutes of arriving at the property, he was shot dead, alongside Senior Constable Vadim De Waart. Another unnamed officer was gravely injured and is recovering in hospital.
Mr Freeman escaped into thick tree cover on his property with several firearms, including, according to local media, an illegal homemade gun and at least one weapon stolen from the slain officers. He remains on the run.
Horror quickly echoed around the valley.
Holed up in the caravan park her family owns, Emily White's voice choked up as she explained her fear and surprise.
I got a knock on my door from one of our workers saying that there's an active shooter. I said, 'What? You're lying, you're joking', she told the BBC over the phone on Tuesday night.
Residents say it's the kind of town where everyone knows everyone. So it didn't take long for Mr Freeman – legally known as Desmond Filby – to be fingered as the alleged culprit.
Mr Freeman's anti-authoritarian beliefs are not unique nor new in Australia, with pseudo-law beliefs long-endured. However, a notable increase in followers has been observed alongside disillusionment toward governmental authority, particularly during the pandemic.
Porepunkah locals express deep concern for their community's safety given the increasing incidents of violence attributed to similar beliefs, reinforcing calls for a stronger understanding and preventative measures from authorities.
Authorities in Australia affirm their growing seriousness regarding the threat posed by conspiracy theorists, taking steps to improve their understanding of these groups, while ensuring public safety remains paramount amid the ongoing manhunt.
