Shared Delusion Led to Deadly Siege, Inquiry Finds

Three Christian extremists sharing a psychiatric disorder fatally shot two police officers and a bystander in an ambush on a rural Australian property. Following reinforcements' intervention, a six-hour siege ended with the extremists' deaths. A coroner's inquiry concluded that their shared delusion and religious extremism fueled the tragic event.

Three Christian extremists sharing a psychiatric disorder fatally shot two police officers and a bystander in an ambush on a rural Australian property, in what authorities say was driven by shared religious extremism.

The six-hour siege on December 12, 2022, in Queensland's Wieambilla region concluded with the deaths of brothers Gareth and Nathaniel Train, and Gareth's wife, Stacey Train, after police reinforcements arrived with armored vehicles.

State Coroner Terry Ryan concluded a 17-day inquiry into the incident, revealing that the Trains' belief in an imminent apocalypse and shared delusional disorder were key factors in the violence. Findings and recommendations to prevent similar tragedies will be released later.

(With inputs from agencies.)