Porepunkah shooting live updates: Two arrested as snow and high winds forecast to hamper manhunt

A dangerous weather system is expected to move across Victoria from late this afternoon.

Five Watch and Acts have been issued for various parts of the state.

Porepunkah is at the foot of Mount Buffalo, in the Victorian Alps.

The State Control Centre has just held a press conference detailing damaging winds that could gust up to 110kph on the ranges.

Blizzards are also forecast above 1,200m.

“That will continue to make conditions very difficult for the police incident up around Porepunkah,” Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch says.

Authorities expect damaging winds for several hours that will ease on Saturday.

Dezi Freeman, also known as Desmond Filby, is a 56-year-old man.

He is described as being Caucasian, 183cm tall, medium build, short dark hair and brown eyes.

He was last seen wearing dark green (khaki) tracksuit pants, dark green rain jacket, brown Blundstone boots and reading glasses.

Police believe he is carrying multiple firearms and should not be approached by members of the public who may see him.

Yesterday, Deputy Commissioner Russell Barrett described the fatal shooting of Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart, the wounding of a third officer and the protracted search for Dezi Freeman as one of the most difficult incidents in the history of Victoria Police.

On top of the Porepunkah operation, 12-year-old Milla Killeen was killed in a school bus crash near Geelong.

And the news just keeps going.

Here’s some advice if things are getting on top of you:

The Porepunkah Pub has announced it’s re-opening after being shut since the shootings happened on Tuesday.

“Over the past few days our town has been through an incredibly difficult and unsettling time. We know many in our community are still processing and seeking connection, and we want to offer the pub as a safe and welcoming place for people to gather,” the pub said on social media.

“Our team is here to provide a comfortable space where friends, family, neighbours and visitors can sit together, share a meal, and support one another. We believe in the strength of this community and the importance of coming together in moments like these.”

In a press conference this afternoon, Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said police had been in discussions with local businesses and supported the re-opening.

He said there’d be a police presence in the town to keep the community safe.

Chief Commissioner Bush steps in to say he wants to finish the questioning by saying the priority of Victoria Police remains the hunt for Dezi Freeman.

He says every available resource is being poured into the search.

But he says a large resource will be sent to the anti-immigration rally planned for Melbourne at the weekend.

The chief commissioner, the premier and police minister — who did not speak at the press conference — have now left.

The Premier finishes by again expressing her support for Victoria Police members and the local community.

“People across the nation are standing with the men and women who work here out of Victoria Police’s Wangaratta station,” he says.

“People around the nation are putting their arms around the community of Porepunkah in this very difficult time.

“And being here today with the minister to lay a floral tribute on behalf of the Victorian community is also one small way that we can demonstrate that we also put our arms around the community here, and the broader Victoria Police family.”

Jacinta Allan has revealed she and Police Minister Anthony Carbines were with the Chief Commissioner when he met the wife of Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson.

“As part of that conversation, we discussed funeral arrangements,” she says.

She did not confirm whether the family had been offered or accepted an offer of a state funeral.

“These are deeply personal decisions that are made by families that are grieving,” she says.

“The state will be providing every support to Victoria Police to support the families in the organisation of the funeral arrangements, recognising that these will be very difficult days for the family.”

Chief Commissioner Bush says police are receiving information from the public.

He says everything is helpful and he encourages people to continue contacting officers.

He says there have been alleged sightings of Dezi Freeman but none has been confirmed.

“Do police think they’ve seen him?” a reporter asks.

Chief Commissioner Bush pauses, then says “Can I leave it at that?”

Chief Commissioner Bush is asked why police could be heard shouting “Come out with nothing in your hands” during the arrest last night.

He says that police always assume that people they are trying to arrest may be armed.

“So we have to follow protocol in terms of that,” he says.

“That’s the safest way to approach that, and we would never assume that there were not firearms in that address.”

Mali Freeman was released without charge last night.

The Porepunkah Pub is re-opening this afternoon after being closed since Tuesday.

Chief Commissioner Bush says he supports the move.

“We’re really conscious that people need to go about their lives,” he says.

“We’ve been in discussion with those owners.

“We’ll be very much in the environment to make sure people are kept safe so our message to people is if you need to go about your business, go about your business, stay safe, be vigilant and we are there to support you.

“But if you see anything that you believe is suspicious or could be this person, please ring triple-0.”

Chief Commissioner Bush is asked whether local police who were preparing to execute the warrant on Dezi Freeman on Tuesday had asked for help from specialist officers in Melbourne, and whether that request was rejected.

“What I can tell you is that that was considered, but it wasn’t requested,” he says.

“When they prepare for a search warrant, they’ll do a risk assessment. They will then decide what level of risk is attached to that and what resources are required to support that.

“They did not consider a request to the Special Operations Group necessary.”

A severe weather warning has been issued for most of Victoria for today, including dangerous wind gusts, rain, hail and snow.

Chief Commissoner Bush says police are used to working in poor weather conditions but acknowleges it is deteriorating.

“It doesn’t help us, and I’m sure it doesn’t help the person we’re looking for.”

He says the Australian Federal Police are joining the search to help keep everyone involved safe.

Chief Commissioner won’t reveal what weapons have been seized from Dezi Freeman’s property.

He says police are not currently exploring Dezi Freeman’s history and actions on Tuesday as a terrorism incident.

“But we will as part of the prosecution so when we apprehend this person, all avenues and all charges will be explored.”

Chief Commissioner Mike Bush says police are exploring “alleged sightings” of Dezi Freeman.

“We can’t confirm they are of him but if you think you have seen him, let us know. We’ll explore it.”

Chief Commissioner Bush won’t reveal if Dezi Freeman’s phone has been picked up at any local mobile phone towers.

He says the search area is very wide.

He says it’s possible the alleged gunman has access to technology.

He says text messages to residents have been sent to a wider area, including major nearby towns because police “are not making any assumptions”.

Chief Commissioner Bush says investigators are keeping an open mind about whether anyone is helping Dezi Freeman to evade police.

“We’re looking at every avenue,” he says.

“If he is being aided in his escape, whoever is considering aiding him in this escape or avoiding apprehension, they are committing a criminal offence.

“This person does not deserve to be aided in any way. If any person knows him or comes in contact with him, they need to encourage him to hand himself in.”

Chief Commissioner Bush is taking questions from the media about the arrest and release of Dezi Freeman’s wife and a teenage boy.

He says he cannot talk about the specifics of what happened.

“There was search warrants executed last night,” he says.

“People were interviewed totally and specifically in relation to the homicide investigation.

“Those searches have been completed, the interviews have been conducted, those people have been released.

“There may or may not be charges that follow but it would be very inappropriate for me to say anything else at this point.”

Jacinta Allan has thanked all the emergency service personnel who are working on the search for Dezi Freeman.

She says she’ll meet the mayor of Alpine Shire to discuss the impact on the community of Porepunkah.

“There is that community of Porepunkah who are living under this heavy shadow, but they don’t do this alone,” she says.

“They have the support of me, my government and the wider community as well and that’s certainly the message I’ll be conveying when I meet with the mayor later today.”

Premier Jacinta Allan is now addressing the press conference.

She says she’s travelled to the region to pay respects to the local police team and thank them for working through their grief to keep the community safe.

“As we can see, there has been an outpouring of support and sympathy for the loss of these two strong members of Victoria Police and the floral tributes here demonstrate that,” he says.

“The minister and I had the opportunity, on behalf of the Victorian community, to add that message of support.”