Rideshare driver 'lucky he wasn't shot' after waving water pistol near NSW parliament
A magistrate has told a rideshare driver he's lucky he wasn't Tasered or shot after waving a water pistol outside NSW parliament yesterday.
Waqar Virk, 28, spent the night in jail after allegedly firing the replica Glock water pistol several times in the direction of The Domain on Hospital Road at 1pm yesterday.
He then drove away before police arrived.
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Waqar Virk, 28, spent the night in jail after the water pistol scare outside NSW parliament. Nine
The water pistol allegedly carried by the man. NSW Police
Virk was arrested at 5pm yesterday and was taken to Mascot police station.
He was charged with possessing an unauthorised firearm and was refused bail.
He appeared in the Downing Centre Local Court today, where he was granted conditional bail but not before a serve from Magistrate Greg Grogan.
"If there's an offence for committing a very stupid act in public, Mr Virk would no doubt be pleading guilty at the first opportunity," he said.
"To be honest, he's lucky he wasn't subject to a greater travesty by way of being Tasered or shot."
Virk had to surrender his passport and is not allowed to go within one kilometre of the NSW parliament.
A friend of Virk's told 9News it was a misunderstanding involving a "toy" that had become serious "because of the location".
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Multiple officers were called to the scene to investigate. 9News
Parliament was in session at the time and Premier Chris Minns' security team was briefed after the incident.
A spokesperson for state parliament security said yesterday that there had been no reported injuries.
Police set up a crime scene in The Domain for about an hour while detectives scoured the park for evidence.
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