The news headlines for July 22, 2016 from the National Indigenous Radio Service.
Attempted attack at Sydney police station
A man has been arrested after driving a car full of gas cylinders into a western Sydney police station.
The man drove into the underground car park of Merrylands Police Station and reportedly tried to set himself and his vehicle alight about 7pm last night. He was arrested about an hour later after a tense stand-off with police.
The reason for the attack remains unclear, although police have ruled out terrorism as a possible motive.
Fiancee plea for driver to come forward
The devastated family of a man killed in a hit and run crash in Perth’s outer north east, have pleaded with the driver of the car that killed him to come forward.
Patrick Tiernan, 47, was struck on the evening of July 6. His 1970s Holden ute became bogged at the side of the road and he was waiting for his fiancee Angela Bond to collect him.
She said he had sent her a text message five minutes before she arrived at the scene to find police trying to revive him.
Turnbull seeks lone wolf terror report
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has asked his top counter-terrorism adviser for ideas on how to prevent lone wolf attacks following the Nice massacre and Sydney’s Lindt cafe siege.
Eighty-four people were killed and hundreds injured when a 31-year-old Tunisian man with a record of domestic violence and petty crimes drove a truck through a Bastille Day crowd in the southern French city a week ago.
Australia’s counter-terrorism co-ordinator Greg Moriarty will examine these and other incidents in a bid to better understand what inspires lone wolves.
The terror threat level in Australia has been at “probable” since September 2014, meaning individuals or groups have developed both an intent and capability to conduct a terrorist attack in Australia.
Backing Rudd for UN ‘would be mistake’
Liberal senator Eric Abetz believes it would be a mistake for the government to endorse Kevin Rudd for a top United Nations job.
Senator Abetz says the Labor party’s rejection of the former prime minister is proof why he shouldn’t be nominated for the role of UN secretary-general.
Senator Abetz also said the government shouldn’t give the UN any greater prominence. There was a rebellion around the world from those countries which have become too close to the UN, he said.
Missing girl found in southeast Qld
A three-year-old girl missing in southeast Queensland has been found safe and well. The girl was reported missing from the town of Haly Creek about 6pm last night.
She was found about three hours later after an extensive search involving a helicopter, the Kingaroy SES and paramedics. A police spokesman said there were no suspicious circumstances and the child was known to play hide and seek.
Qld plaque to remember Aussie WWI diggers
A plaque dedicated to 5,000 Australian soldiers killed 100 years ago in just two days of fighting during World War One will be unveiled at Brisbane’s Gallipoli Barracks will be unveiled later this morning.
The Army’s 1st Division will dedicate a plaque to the fallen at the Battle of Pozieres (POZ-EE-AIRS) in which the 1st, 2nd and 4th Australian Division’s suffered heavy casualties in the fight, which began on July 23, 1916 and lasted two weeks.
US police shoot unarmed black carer
In international news, a fresh storm is brewing in the United States over police shootings, with an unarmed black man who was caring for an autistic client shot by Miami police while lying on the ground with his hands in the air.
Disabled caregiver Charles Kinsey was trying to help an autistic client, who police were told was carrying a gun and threatening suicide. But a video of the incident clearly shows the man was not armed. Video footage shows Kinsey lying in the street with the man, with his hands in the air, before he’s shot by police. Kinsey is then rolled onto his stomach by police, handcuffed and left to bleed without treatment.
In the past few weeks, at least eight police officers have been killed in mass shootings by gunmen seeking revenge over the ongoing killing of black people by US police.
