Wieambilla: Queensland shooting declared act of domestic terror

The deadly ambush that led to the murders of two Queensland police officers and a civilian has been declared an act of domestic terrorism.

Constable Rachel McCrow, 26, and Constable Matthew Arnold, 29, were gunned down at the property in the western Darling Downs, about three hours west of Brisbane.

The deadly ambush that led to the execution-style murders of two Queensland police officers and a civilian on a remote property last December has been declared an act of domestic terrorism linked to the Christian fundamentalist belief system known as premillennialism.

Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Tracy Linford confirmed the three Train family members who perpetrated the shooting at their property at Wieambilla, 290kms northwest of Brisbane, last December were an “autonomous cell” that was “religiously motivated”.

She said there was an indication they were linked to the sovereign citizen movement, although they held similar ideological beliefs.

“We have now had the opportunity to go through many, many documents,” Deputy Commissioner Linford said.

“One of those being a diary that Stacey Train maintained.

“We've had an opportunity to go through all the phone messages texts, emails, the social media postings. I can tell you our investigators at this point in time have taken over 190 statements and recorded interviews. We’ve gone through body-worn camera footage and also CCTV.

“That analysis has provided us significant information and understanding about what drove the motivation of the Train family members on that day and our assessment has concluded that Nathaniel, Gareth and Stacey Train acted as an autonomous cell and executed a religiously-motivated terrorist attack.”

Nathaniel Train was at the centre of the bloody cop massacre. Photo: Supplied

Four young police officers from the Western Downs towns of Chinchilla and Tara attended the sprawling property on December 12 after a request NSW Police in the search for missing school principal Nathaniel Train.

When they entered the property, Train, his brother Gareth and his wife Stacey opened fire, killing Constables Rachel McCrow, 29, and Matthew Arnold, 26, and injuring one policeman who managed to escape and raise the alarm. Another officer hid in the tall grass, with the Train’s lighting fires and taunting her to lure her out.

Neighbour Alan Dare, 58, was shot and killed when he went to investigate.

Premillennialism is the Christian belief of the second coming of Christ based on a literal interpretation of the Bible’s book of Revelation that Christ will return to the earth for 1000 years and provide peace and prosperity before a period of tribulation, widespread destruction and suffering.

Christian ideology has never been linked to an Australian terror attack.

As revealed by The Australian, the remote property was fortified for an ambush of police if they attended. Ms Lindford said there was significant evidence of advanced preparation and planning.

“We can see that they do see the police as monsters and demons,” Ms Linford said.

“We don’t believe this attack was random or spontaneous. We do believe it was an attack directed at police.”

During the hours-long siege on the day of the shootings, Gareth and Stacey posted a video on YouTube boasting that they killed “these devils and demons”.

The Wieambilla property, which sits on 44 hectares along a dirt road, had been prepared for an ambush. CCTV cameras had been installed to monitor the grounds, with mirrors attached to trees.

Camouflaged hides were erected, where it is believed the Train family members would lie in wait, and barriers made of logs, dirt and steel were scattered around the property. A trap door was installed under the house for an easy escape.

Six firearms, three compound bows and arrows and several knives were found at the property. Camouflage clothes were also discovered, and it was previously reported one of the Trains wore a gillie suit during the attack.

“I want to stress there is absolutely no evidence at this time, that there is anyone else in Australia that participated or assisted in this attack,” said Ms Lindford.

Screengrab taken from footage of Gareth Train and Stacey Train posted to a now deleted YouTube channel.

A Queensland Police officer stationed in Chinchilla had attended the property in August regarding Nathaniel’s crossing of the NSW and Queensland border in December 2021 near Goondiwindi, where he broke an e-gate.

The gate to the Wieambilla property was closed and the officer did not enter.

The primary school principal had a gun license and was the registered owner of five firearms, three of which were brought across the border. Two were found at the property following the attack, with the remaining guns unregistered.

During the hours-long siege on the day of the shootings, Gareth and Stacey posted a video on YouTube boasting that they killed “these devils and demons”.

It followed a series of increasingly ominous online posts leading up to the ­attack at their property, in which Gareth ranted about the “Jesuit World Order” and police, and described convicted Port Arthur shooter Martin Bryant as the “perfect patsy” for the 1996 mass killing of 35 people, staged to enable a crackdown on gun ownership.

Investigators have met with the FBI regarding postings on online forums which were responded to by American citizens.

Each of the Trains had worked extensively within Queensland's education network. Stacey left her teaching job in 2021 a day before Covid-19 vaccinations were mandated.

Stacey and Nathaniel were married at 18, and soon after had two children together from which they were estranged at the time of the shooting. It is still unclear when Stacey and Nathaniel’s elder brother Gareth married, but the three had spent time living together throughout regional Queensland.

The killings have raised questions about the need for greater gun control nationally. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it was earlier this month it was “quite clear we need to do better in co-operation between jurisdictions when it comes to firearms”.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.