Aussie police suspend use of bean bag rounds after causing death

Xinhua
19 Sep 2023, 15:18 GMT+10

SYDNEY, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Police in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) have temporarily suspended the use of bean bag rounds after a woman aged 47 was shot by officers and later died in the hospital.

"That suspension will remain in place until we do a full review of the capability and see if it's worth continuing," NSW Police Acting Commissioner David Hudson confirmed at a press conference held on Tuesday.

"It is a less-than-lethal option or so defined and if we remove it permanently from our capability, we will only be left with Tasers between a baton and a firearm and that's a concern to us," he noted.

At around 12:30 p.m. local time on Thursday, police were called to a unit complex on Mitchell Street in Stockton, a suburb of Newcastle, following reports of a woman threatening people with an axe.

After a nine-hour standoff, police implemented a number of tactical options, including a Taser and impact munitions, before the 47-year-old woman was taken into custody. She was able to walk to a nearby ambulance but later died in the hospital.

According to Hudson, interim post-mortem examination results showed that the death was caused by "a gunshot wound to the chest."

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Japan Herald.

More Information

20 ℃

Fair in Shinagawa City

Asia Pacific

Section

$14 billion takeover bid by JIP a success: Toshiba

TOKYO, Japan: This week, Toshiba revealed that a tender offer worth US$14 billion from Japan Industrial Partners (JIP) was a ...

Fewer weddings hit China's $500 billion wedding industry

BEIJING, China: In a country where weddings are traditionally grand and expensive events, China's wedding industry, estimated at some US$500 ...

China wants Hong Kong consulates to give personal data of local staff

HONG KONG: The Chinese Foreign Ministry has issued a request to all foreign consulates in Hong Kong, seeking the personal ...

Canada's TMX expansion may triple oil flow to country's Pacific Coast

CALGARY, Canada: From early 2024, the long-delayed and controversial Canadian government-owned Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion (TMX) is expected to ...

South Korean teachers seek legal defense against abusive parents

SEOUL, South Korea: Thousands of South Korean educators and school staff gathered in Seoul over the weekend to demand increased ...

Tragedy of 2019 Christchurch attacks remembered

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand In a heartfelt tribute to the victims of the tragic 2019 Christchurch attacks, the Australian Federal Police ...

Business

Section