A ride-share driver in NSW was charged and a water pistol was seized by police after reports of a man shooting a replica firearm near NSW Parliament. The incident occurred on Hospital Road, behind parliament, where witnesses allegedly saw the man shooting the gun into the ground. Police responded to the scene and launched a manhunt to find the alleged offender after he left before their arrival. The search concluded with the arrest of 28-year-old Waqar Hassan Virk in Mascot, who was found carrying a water pistol. Virk was charged with possessing an unauthorized firearm and was refused bail to appear in court the following day.
The water pistol seized by police would be subject to further examination as part of the investigation. The Department of Parliamentary Services security branch assured that there was no threat to anyone at parliament and no injuries were reported during the incident. Parliament staff had alerted police after observing the suspicious behavior of the individual. The man had driven off before police arrived, which led to a major police response in the area surrounding NSW Parliament as authorities worked to locate him. The incident took place while state parliament was in session.
The swift response from police to the reports of a man shooting a replica firearm near NSW Parliament led to the arrest of the ride-share driver in Mascot. Waqar Hassan Virk was apprehended with a water pistol in his possession, which led to charges of possessing an unauthorized firearm. The water pistol was seized by police for further examination in relation to the incident. Virk was taken to Mascot police station and was refused bail, with a scheduled appearance in Downing Centre Local Court.
Despite the initial alarm caused by the reports of the man shooting near NSW Parliament, authorities were able to confirm that there was no ongoing threat to anyone at the parliament building. The Department of Parliamentary Services security branch issued a statement reassuring the public that there were no injuries as a result of the incident. The incident occurred while state parliament was in session, prompting a heightened level of concern and police response in the area surrounding Hospital Road behind the parliament building.
The situation near NSW Parliament on Hospital Road unfolded when witnesses observed a man shooting a replica firearm into the ground, leading to a major police response in the area. The manhunt for the alleged offender came to a close with the arrest of Waqar Hassan Virk, a ride-share driver in Mascot who was found carrying a water pistol. The water pistol seized by police would be examined further in the course of the investigation. Virk was charged with possessing an unauthorized firearm and was denied bail, with a scheduled appearance in court the next day. The incident resulted in heightened alertness among staff at the parliament building but ultimately posed no threat to individuals on the premises.
