The area near Wieambilla shootings was known for 'mantraps' and threats, inquest hears
Large bushland blocks similar to where six people were violently killed in Queensland were known for having "mantraps" and signs threatening to shoot upon entry, a coroner has heard.
Two police officers were killed at a remote property at Wieambilla, west of Brisbane, on the afternoon of December 12, 2022 when an arrest warrant turned into an ambush by shooters with high-powered rifles.
Constable Craig Loveland testified today at the inquest at Brisbane Coroners Court.
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Footage, captured by infrared cameras on two police helicopters, shows Gareth and Nathaniel Train lying prone on the ground shooting at police, including an armoured BearCat vehicle. Queensland Police
He told State Coroner Terry Ryan he was at Tara Police Station about 30km south of Wieambilla when he got the call to assist a "shots fired" incident.
Loveland said the incident was in an area known as "the blocks" and he had been advised by more experienced officers not to attend that area by himself.
"I was told to get a second officer for certain areas and certain addresses … there were signs saying 'do not enter or you will be shot'," he said.
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A burning police vehicle and a perimeter of a small fire set by Gareth, Stacey and Nathaniel Train around their property can be seen in the footage. Queensland Police
Nathaniel, his brother Gareth and sister-in-law Stacey Train were shot dead by police minutes after the footage was taken. They had refused to negotiate and repeatedly shot at police. Supplied
Loveland said he had seen the signs himself and had probably entered properties with them.
"Certain addresses had mantraps, pits with spikes and other things around the block in certain properties … to injure people when they entered," he said.
Constable Christopher Sharman, who responded from Dalby about one hour's drive away, testified he could not get a police radio signal when he arrived.
"We had no communications by radio … the QLITE (police tablet computer) dropped out. Our map was not working very well," he said.
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The "hide" made of leaves, branches and logs that was used by Nathaniel Train as a concealed shooting position during the fatal ambush of two Queensland police officers at Wieambilla. AAP
The coroner heard the officers who responded to help were not allowed to approach the shooting scene as they were armed with Glock pistols with a 15-metre accuracy range.
The suspects were armed with high-powered rifles and had fired at officers while at long range and hidden.
Loveland said one of the few officers trained to use the rifles kept at police stations was Constable Matthew Arnold, who had been killed during the initial shooting.
The coroner released multiple videos ahead of today's inquest hearing.
They were mainly captured after sunset that day via infrared cameras on two police helicopters as they circled a house surrounded by bushland about three hours after two officers had been killed.
A burning police vehicle and a perimeter of small fires set by Gareth, Stacey and Nathaniel Train around their property can be seen in the footage.
Gareth Train is seen firing a rifle at one of the helicopters before sitting down at an outside table with his wife Stacey and recording a YouTube video with her.
"They came to kill us and we killed them … If you don't defend yourself against these devils and demons, you're a coward," Gareth Train said in the video.
The burnt-out remains of a police vehicle and a fake security camera on a mailbox next to the front gate of the Train family property at Wieambilla in Queensland. AAP
Nathaniel Train can later be seen lying prone behind a log and firing at an armoured BearCat police vehicle using a rifle with a scope.
Soon after the video ends, all three Trains were fatally shot by police within minutes of each other.
Constables Arnold and Rachel McCrow were shot dead at 4.37pm as they walked with another two officers up a driveway leading to the property intending to locate Nathaniel Train.
Ryan previously heard that then-Inspector Wayne Rasmussen was assigned the role of forward commander at 4.47pm after reports of two officers being shot.
Rasmussen was due to give evidence today at the five-week inquest.
Rasmussen approved a rescue mission for Constable Keely Brough as she was in danger of being shot or burned to death by a fire lit by the Trains to flush her out.
During Rasmussen's command, Wieambilla resident Alan Dare was shot dead by the Trains after he went to investigate the fire.
Rasmussen handed over command of the scene to the Police Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) at 9.05pm.
By 10.41pm, all three Trains had been fatally shot by SERT officers after they refused to negotiate and fired on police.
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