Reports of Clarkson gunshots were probably cars backfiring, police say, as school lockdown lifted - ABC News

Police locked down Clarkson Primary School in Perth's north after multiple reports of gunshots in the area. (ABC News: David Weber)

Primary school children in Perth's north say they were "scared" as they hid under classroom desks as police swarmed the area investigating reports of gunshots that turned out to be a false alarm.

Key points:

• Clarkson Primary School was locked down twice after reports of gunshots
• But police believe it was probably the sound of cars backfiring
• They say there is no ongoing threat to the community

Clarkson Primary School was placed into lockdown twice on Wednesday afternoon, and local residents were told to stay indoors, following multiple reports to police of a series of gunshots being fired in the area.

The first flurry of reports came in just after midday, plunging the school into lockdown.

Police couldn't find the source and the school day resumed as usual, but that all changed once a second round of loud noises were reported at 2:20pm.

At that time, significant police resources were sent to the suburb, about 34 kilometres north of Perth, and the school went back into lockdown.

The Tactical Response Group was deployed to the area and roads were cordoned off.

At a press conference late on Wednesday afternoon, Acting Inspector Les Andrews said police now believed they were probably cars backfiring, but couldn't confirm the source of the noise.

Police officers outside Clarkson Primary School on Wednesday afternoon. (ABC News: David Weber)

"There was no evidence to indicate that an actual firearm was discharged in the area."

Kids scared, hid under desks

Shelby Kahu said she came to the school to pick up her daughter Carmen after receiving a text message.

Carmen said she felt worried when told they were in a lockdown and had to hide.

Shelby Kahu's daughter Carmen was relieved to be finally let out of her classroom.(ABC News: David Weber)

"[We were] in our classroom under our desks," she said.

"It was really scary, some people were crying, some people stressed and then some others were laughing and being silly because they thought it was a drill."

Brooklyn Casey said she arrived at the school at 2:45 pm to pick up her son Kasey.

She said she'd heard the noises herself from her house.

Brooklyn Casey, pictured with son Kasey, said she heard the noises from her home.(ABC News: David Weber)

Kasey said he had to hide for two hours.

"I hided in the calm corner," he said, adding he was happy to be finally going home.

Police believed there was no ongoing threat to the community.

Acting Inspector Les Andrews addresses the media to say the public threat has passed.(ABC News: David Weber)

"I do want to reassure [people] that there is no evidence of any safety concerns to the community," Inspector Andrews said.

"There's no evidence of any gunshot wounds, there's no damage, there's no injuries and the community can be reassured."

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2023-09-13 07:44:02Z
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