Ride-share driver charged, water pistol seized after parliament security scare

An Uber driver allegedly caught waving what appeared to be Glock out the window of his car behind Parliament House has been slammed by a magistrate.

An Uber driver allegedly caught waving what appeared to be Glock out the window of his car behind Parliament House has been slammed by a magistrate, who told him he was “lucky he wasn’t tased or shot”.

Waraq Virk was arrested after police swarmed Hospital Rd behind NSW Parliament just after 1pm on Thursday, following reports a man was seen discharging a replica firearm.

Police allege 28-year-old Virk was in his Toyota Camry “discharging” and “brandishing” what was in fact a water pistol, which a court heard he’d bought two days earlier from Facebook Marketplace.

Police search the Domain parklands after a man apparently let off replica gun on Thursday.

The police prosecutor clarified in court that “discharging” meant Virk squirted water from it.

About 5.10pm that evening, police tracked Virk’s vehicle — which had the number plates ‘VIRK7’ — to Mascot as he was on his way to drop passengers at the airport, and seized a water pistol.

The Pakistani national was later charged with possess unauthorised firearm.

Waqar Virk is accused of firing a water pistol near Parliament House. Picture: Instagram

A magistrate told him he was lucky he wasn’t shot. Picture: Instagram

He spent the night at Surry Hills Police cells, where it’s alleged he told police he had intended to give the water pistol to his nephew on an upcoming trip back to Pakistan.

At the Sydney Downing Centre on Friday, Magistrate Greg Grogan shook his head at the suggestion and told Virk he was “lucky he wasn’t shot” if he arrived at an airport with the water pistol.

“To be honest he is lucky he wasn’t subject of a greater travesty by way of being tasered or even shot,” he said.

In a tearful interview with officers last night, the court heard he allegedly apologised for his actions and told police he “didn’t know” he was doing the wrong thing.

His Legal Aid solicitor Edward Gilson told the court his client had “no malicious intentions” and had expressed remorse.

The water pistol police allegedly seized. Picture: NSW Police

Despite police prosecutors arguing against his release to bail, Magistrate Grogan agreed to release Virak on strict conditions, but ordered the 28-year-old to consider the “stupidity of his actions”.

“It is beyond me, if there was an offence of committing a very stupid act in public he would be pleading guilty at the first available opportunity,” he said.

“I have no idea why someone would take such an object to such a high profile place and wave it around.”

As well as surrendering his passport, Virk will have to report to police each week.

He was also banned from going within 1km or Parliament House and Hospital Rd.

He is yet to enter pleas to the charge against him and will return to court later this year.

How the event unfolded

On Thursday, more than a dozen officers in six marked cars swarmed Hospital Rd behind NSW parliament just after 1pm following reports a man was seen discharging a replica firearm.

It was initially believed the man had fired a gel blaster into the Domain before leaving the area in his car.

A crime scene was established.

Officers searched the park for evidence.

Security camera footage of the incident was provided to police as part of their investigation.

Detectives were seen talking to NSW parliament special constables and officers assigned to protect Premier Chris Minns.

Mr Minns, and other NSW politicians, were inside NSW Parliament at the time.

NSW Police initially suggested the replica firearm was a gel blaster.

Do you know more? Email [e-mail]