SYDNEY, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Police in the Australian state of Victoria have announced a one-million-Australian-dollar (656,000 U.S. dollars) reward for information that leads to the arrest of a man accused of fatally shooting two officers.
Desmond Freeman, 56, has been on the run since August 26 when he allegedly fatally shot two police officers, and seriously injured a third, who were executing a search warrant at a rural property in the small town of Porepunkah, 210 km northeast of Melbourne in Victoria's alpine region.
The shooting has triggered one of the biggest police operations in Australian history, with over 450 police officers as well as military personnel deployed to search for Freeman across the vast and rugged alpine region.
Victoria Police on Saturday announced the reward of up to 1 million Australian dollars for anyone who provides information leading to Freeman's arrest, marking the largest reward ever offered in the state for an arrest.
"This figure recognizes the seriousness of this violent offending and our commitment to locating Freeman as soon as possible so that he is no longer a risk to the broader community," Homicide Squad Detective Inspector Dean Thomas said in a statement.
There have been no confirmed sightings of Freeman since the shooting. Police previously said they believe that he could be receiving assistance from members of the public.
Residents in and around Porepunkah have been advised to remain vigilant and report any sightings or suspicious behavior to police. ■