Mass shooting fears after huge weapons arsenal found at Sydney home
Police have found a massive arsenal of semi-automatic rifles, crossbows and hundreds of knives and swords at a home in Sydney's west belonging to a former corrective services officer with high-level weapons training.
Detectives who were executing a search warrant at the home in Richmond found five rifles, including a semi-automatic Norinco SKS, more than 2000 rounds of ammunition, three crossbows and more than 100 arrows, a large collection of knives and swords and literature relating to terrorism and disaster response protocols.
Massive arsenal found in Richmond
Police have found a massive arsenal of semi-automatic rifles, cross-bows, hundreds of knives and swords and ballistics vest at a home in Sydney's west.
Seven tactical police officers arrested a 64-year-old man at the home while he was taking out the garbage and found five knives on his person, Acting Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith said.
The man was taken to Windsor police station where he "developed quite acute behaviour" and was taken to hospital for a mental health assessment, where he currently remains.
"What we saw or what we found in this particular matter was a deeply troubled individual who has a history of weapons training and tactical training, he was dismissed from corrective services, coupled with some pretty high-powered fire power and 50 times those rounds required by a sports shooter," Mr Smith said.
"During the search warrant there was quite a volume of literature located, which included terrorism response information, response to disasters...and a number of books by famous snipers and those included particular weapons that we found during the search.
Police have found a massive arsenal of rifles, pistols, cross-bows, knives, swords and more than 2000 rounds of ammunition at a home in Richmond.
"With the literature in the house we were obviously significantly concerned and obviously concerned that this person poses a significant risk to the community.
"We can only interpret the evidence from the scene...the threat was real, it was significant and it was imminent."
Police are expecting to charge the man with at least 20 charges relating to firearms and weapons offences once he is released from hospital.
Mr Smith said the man lost the right to have a gun licence in 2009 and has previously faced charges relating to weapons-related offences, but was not convicted on mental health grounds.
More than 100 knives and swords were found.
Photo: NSW Police
Detectives from the State Crime Command's Drug and Firearms Squad searched the property on Tuesday morning after receiving a tip-off from the Australian Border Force that firearms parts had been imported.
Images from the property show more than a dozen boxes filled with ammunition of different calibres, including rifle magazines, long-range bullets and metal slugs.
Police also found a number of face masks, SWAT vests and armoured helmets.
They returned to the property on Wednesday after they were contacted about a suspicious bag found hidden in a concrete stairwell at the back of the property.
Face masks, SWAT vests and armoured helmets were also found.
Photo: NSW Police
They found another five firearms including handguns and pistols during the second search.
NSW police said the firearms seized at the home have been submitted for forensic and ballistic examination and that inquiries are continuing.
Mr Smith said this is one of the most significant seizures made by police.
"For an individual with this level of focus and this level of training, [this is] one of the most significant seizure, we're talking about adding capability to obviously a very disturbed [individual]," Mr Smith said.
"We are conscious of what is happening around the world and NSW police are here to mitigate the risk."
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