Neighbour speaks out after Clinton siege terror

A neighbour has spoken out after a terrifying siege which forced armed police to shut down Queensland streets after the release of the man at the centre of it all.

Snipers were in place at a neighbouring residence in Clinton on Monday evening after a PSPA declaration was made. Picture: Jamie Hewitt, Facebook.

A Gladstone man caught up in a siege that saw police with rifles descend upon the Clinton suburb during a simple welfare check has left him terrified after the man behind it all was released without charge.

The neighbour, who asked to remain anonymous out of fear for his safety, said he witnessed the ordeal, from when it first began at 11.30am on Monday, 4 September, to when the man was taken into custody.

Police declared a Public Safety Preservation Act (PSPA) just after 3.20pm to ensure people stayed away from the area and neighbours stayed in their homes, encompassing Aerodrome Road and Pashley Street.

The exclusion zone was established around Aerodrome Road in Clinton.

Officers attended an address within the exclusion zone about 11.40am, with specialist police negotiating with a man at the address alone.

The neighbour said he first heard the commotion outside when the man began yelling at a female police officer.

He said the man appeared to have a large knife, like a machete, and another neighbour said he also appeared to have a fake gun.

“I was in shock, I’d never seen something like that before,” the neighbour said.

“I was half expecting the (police officers) to shoot him, because he was really threatening them. I’m worried now, because he’s out and I’ve seen him (since Monday).

“If he can threaten police who have the ability to shut him down, what’s stopping him from doing the same thing to people like us who don’t have weapons.”

A Queensland Police Service spokesman said it would be inappropriate to comment further given the issue was mental health related and the man is not currently facing any charges.

Police have reported they were at the address conducting a welfare check.

Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service refused to comment on the incident.