Manhunt in Porepunkah: Conspiracy Theories Echo Amidst Police Tragedy

Sat Sep 13 2025 15:48:04 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The small town of Porepunkah, Australia, is on high alert as it becomes the epicenter of a massive manhunt for Desmond Filby, a heavily armed fugitive accused of killing two police officers. This incident has revived discussions around the increasing threat of anti-government conspiracy theorists in Australia.

Porepunkah, a peaceful town in the Australian Alps, is shaken by a tragic police shooting that left two officers dead during a search warrant execution. The alleged shooter, Desmond Filby, remains at large, prompting a large-scale manhunt. The incident highlights concerns regarding the rising influence of anti-government conspiracy theorists in Australia, reminiscent of a previous police ambush in Queensland.

Even in Australia, Porepunkah is a town few would have heard of before this week. Fewer still could pronounce it.

Nestled at the base of densely wooded mountains in the Australian Alps, it is home to about 1,000 people and beloved for its wineries, bushwalking, and peaceful atmosphere – something which has now been shattered.

Choppers whir overhead. Kevlar-clad officers patrol the town. Armoured vehicles roll down its streets. Porepunkah is now the center of a massive manhunt for a heavily armed man that police allege murdered two of their own in cold blood.

Officers went to Dezi Freeman's property on the outskirts with a warrant to search it. They were met with gunfire, before their alleged attacker – a 'sovereign citizen' with a well-documented hatred of authority – vanished into nearby bushland.

The shooting has revived questions over how the country deals with growing sects of anti-government conspiracy theorists.

Small community 'rattled'

The police were clearly expecting potential danger with the warrant execution. A risk assessment had been conducted, leading to the deployment of 10 officers to the scene.

Among them was a local detective, Neal Thompson, who was shot dead, alongside Senior Constable Vadim De Waart. Another officer was seriously injured and is recovering in hospital.

Mistakenly thought of as a safe community, residents were left in shock with reports of an active shooter echoing around the valley. With a community where doors are often left unlocked, the reality of armed violence has rocked their sense of safety.

Freeman has escaped into thick cover with several firearms, including illegal weapons believed to have belonged to the slain officers.

This tragic event has sparked reflections on the risk posed by the anti-government conspiracy movement, a group that some experts warn is growing in Australia.

Sovereign citizens deny the legitimacy of established government law, leading to isolated incidents of violence, creating an urgent need for authorities to reassess their approach to such extremist beliefs.