Nepean Hospital in lockdown after shots fired
A MAN shot by police at a Sydney hospital was allegedly carrying knives and had a note saying there was a bomb in his car.
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A MAN who was shot by police at a hospital west of Sydney was allegedly armed with knives and had written a note indicating there was a bomb in his car.
Police rushed to Nepean Hospital in Penrith shortly after 4pm following reports of a man threatening security guards.
It’s understood he drove his car into the ambulance bay and walked into the entrance of a building brandishing knives
When police arrived, the 54-year-old allegedly charged at guards and “attempted to stab an officer” before being shot, a New South Wales Police spokesperson said.
He suffered a gun shot wound to the abdomen and was treated at the scene by ambulance paramedics and later underwent lifesaving surgery. He was in a stable condition.
The man allegedly left a note that contained a specific threat about an explosive device in his grey vehicle, which was left with its doors open.
The bomb squad and riot officers were called to the scene.
A tremendous thank you to all our staff who performed admirably under challenging circumstances today. I witnessed the largest of team efforts and am both humbled and proud. Thank you to our patients for their understanding and patience pic.twitter.com/grC3HPvGNJ
— General Manager Nepean Hospital (@NepeanGM) October 4, 2018
The shooting incident sparked an emergency lockdown of the hospital, forcing the closure of the emergency department.
A 100-metre exclusion zone was established, which saw surrounding streets closed. They have since reopened.
Penrith: Pictures just in of the bomb squad searching a car for a suspect device at Nepean Hospital after a man earlier made threats and was shot by police. #7News pic.twitter.com/s24xbglWzh
— 7 News Sydney (@7NewsSydney) October 4, 2018
Grey car searched which has been searched by police just outside Nepean Hospital. @abcsydney @abcnews pic.twitter.com/polqm1EhMq
— Jonathan Hair (@JonathanHair) October 4, 2018
Police said no one else was injured in the incident.
Authorities will now investigate the incident, including the discharge of a police firearm. That investigation will be subject to independent review.
Police are urging any witnesses to come forward to assist with their inquiries.
A woman who was at a doctor’s appointment when the situation unfolded told Channel 7 that patients were rapidly evacuated.
“I was actually sitting in the doctor’s office with my partner in a consultation and all of a sudden there was a gun shot,” she said.
“It’s honestly giving me goosebumps right now. Who knows what could’ve happened?”
Nepean Hospital emergency department has been temporarily closed following a shooting. Full update at link below:
— Nepean Blue Mts LHD (@NBMLHD) October 4, 2018
All ambulance vehicles were diverted away from Nepean Hospital to alternative emergency rooms.
A statement from New South Wales Health said the Nepean emergency department remained closed, and advised patients to attend other hospitals at either Blacktown, Liverpool, Hawkesbury or Mt Druitt.
The hospital up the road is currently under lockdown because there’s a shooting. This is so scary
— alicia (@jiggywithjackj) October 4, 2018
This is the second shooting incident at Nepean Hospital, after a nurse from a nearby health facility shot a police officer and security guard in 2016.
The 39-year-old also held a pair of scissors to the throat of a doctor while screaming that he was going to kill somebody.
Originally published as Nepean Hospital in lockdown after shots fired