Gunman fires up to 100 shots, injuring 20 in shocking Sydney street attack

A brazen shooting spree in a busy Sydney street left 20 injured after a man allegedly fired up to 100 bullets, in what police called a “serious and terrifying” incident, with investigators confirming no ties to terrorism or gang activity.

New South Wales Police Acting Superintendent Stephen Parry said between 50 and 100 shots were fired before a large police contingent moved in to secure the area. Officers entered a unit above a business, where they arrested a 60-year-old man and seized two rifles.

Police were called on Sunday evening to the city’s Inner West after reports of a man firing randomly at passing cars and officers. Witnesses described scenes of panic and confusion as gunfire erupted without warning.

Office worker Joe Azar, who was working across the road, said he initially mistook the sounds for fireworks or stones hitting windows. “Some guy’s windshield blew up, then the bus stop glass shattered,” he told The Sydney Morning Herald. “The surreal feeling kicked in like, ‘Oh, this is what’s happening’. It was frantic. It all happened so quick, so I couldn’t comprehend what was going on.”

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The suspect was taken to hospital with injuries sustained during his arrest. Police confirmed that no charges had yet been filed.

Motive unclear as investigation continues

One man presented himself to hospital with a gunshot wound and remains in a “serious” condition. Nineteen others were treated for injuries caused by shrapnel and shattered glass, with several requiring hospital care.

New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon described the event as “serious and terrifying”, adding that investigators had found no evidence of terrorism or gang involvement. “The gunman’s motive remains unclear,” he told local radio station 2GB.

A witness named Tadgh told ABC that he had been watching the rugby when he first heard the gunfire. “It was very loud, bang, bang, bang — and flash-bangs and sparks and smoke and the whole works. It was something out of a movie, really,” he said.

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Mass shootings are rare in Australia, where strict gun laws have been in place since 1996 following the Port Arthur massacre that claimed 35 lives. However, isolated incidents have occurred in recent years. In August, alleged gunman Dezi Freeman went on the run after being accused of killing two police officers and remains at large. In 2022, six people, including two officers, were shot dead near the Queensland town of Wieambilla.

Police investigations into Sunday’s shooting are underway.