Office workers' heroic act after man shot in Sydney CBD
Emergency services rushed to Castlereagh Street after a man was shot.
A police officer has praised office workers for restraining an alleged gunman on the ground after a 77-year-old man was shot in the heart of Sydney on Wednesday afternoon.
Emergency services were called to a building, believed to be a law firm, located on Castlereagh Street in the city's CBD around 12.50pm where a man was suffering from an apparent gunshot.
The man was treated by paramedics and has reportedly been taken to St Vincent's Hospital.
The building where the shooting allegedly took place is home to multiple law firms, including the Consulate General of Greece and O’Brien Criminal and Civil Solicitors.
It is believed up to six office workers held down the alleged gunman, aged 79, while police officers made their way to scene, arriving within three minutes.
"The people inside the office were very brave," Detective Inspector David El-Badawi told media at the scene. "They restrained the offender until police arrived."
A crime scene has been established and the man was arrested and taken to a nearby police station.
Despite there being no further ongoing threat to the community the public has been advised to avoid the area to allow emergency services access.
Eye witnesses describe 'shocking' scene
Arabella Fennessy, 17, and Peniana Blair, 17, were at the scene after getting off a nearby bus and said they saw a contingent of ambulance and police cars entering the area.
Blair said she saw an elderly man get wheeled out of the building in a stretcher, with police walking around the area, initially in bulletproof vests.
"A bunch of police officers were just running to their cars and pulling on their bullet vests," she said. "I'm really shocked. We didn’t expect this to happen."
Fennessy originally thought the incident was a car crash, saying "I thought it would be more safe in Sydney. It's the middle of the city, and a Wednesday. It’s really sad and scary."
with NCA and AAP
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
