In December 2022, a routine missing persons check in rural Queensland turned into one of the deadliest attacks on police in recent Australian history. Two officers and a neighbouring resident were killed in a violent ambush at a remote property near the small community of Wieambilla.
In this episode, Holly and Matthew walk through the events as they unfolded — from the initial police attendance to the hours-long emergency response that followed. As investigators pieced together what had happened, the scale and planning of the attack became increasingly clear.
This is a careful reconstruction of the incident itself: the timeline, the confrontation, and the aftermath of a tragedy that shocked communities across Australia.
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Sources used this episode (in appearance order):
- Hinchcliffe, J. (2022, December 16). Wieambilla shooting: Stacey Train had limited contact with family after entering ‘controlling’ relationship with brother-in-law. The Guardian. Retrieved January 29, 2025, from https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/dec/15/wieambilla-shooting-stacey-train-had-limited-contact-with-family-after-entering-controlling-relationship-with-brother-in-law
- Daily Mail Staff. (2022, December 15). Tracing the Trains. The Daily Mail. Retrieved January 29, 2025, from https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/fb-11540187/TRACING-TRAINS.html
- Callinan, R., Andre, J., & Stone, L. (2022, December 15). Nathaniel, Gareth and Stacey Train carried out a deadly police shooting. Their twisted backstory is revealed. ABC News. Retrieved january 29, 2025, from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-12-15/qld-police-shooting-offenders-nathaniel-gareth-stacey-train/101766720
- Nolan, M., Devon, E., & Burley, M. (2022, December 13). Neighbours describe hearing chilling gun fight 'like World War III.'. The Chronicle. Retrieved January 29, 2025, from https://www.thechronicle.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-toowoomba/residents-in-chinchilla-and-tara-are-coming-to-terms-with-the-horror-events-that-unfolded-last-night/news-story/e4fbe7f031cac6308037fc561a8429d7
- Smee, B., & Bucci, N. (2022, December 15). God and guns: the strict religious upbringing of the Wieambilla shooters. The Guardian. Retrieved January 29, 2025, from https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/dec/14/god-and-guns-the-strict-religious-upbringing-of-the-wieambilla-shooters
- Meacham, S., & Walsh, S. (2023, January 22). 'Fear of the unknown' led to Queensland cop slayings, daughter claims. 9 News. Retrieved January 29, 2025, from https://www.9news.com.au/national/queensland-police-massacre-wieambilla-daughter-madelyn-train-interview-part-one/8e86f5f0-bd2c-4e32-b370
- Train, G. (2020, November 24). Dodgy Tasmania Police Still Covering Up Port Arthur Scam. Retrieved January 29, 2025, from CairnsNews.org: https://cairnsnews.org/2019/11/09/dodgy-tasmania-police-still-covering-up-port-arthur-scam/#comment-119937
- Train, G. (2020, October 18). Why the Rats are Abandoning Ship. Retrieved January 29, 2025, from CIR Now: https://cirnow.com.au/why-the-rats-are-abandoning-ship/#comment-13295
- Train, G. (2021, May 26). Channel Seven clearly being managed by Deep State after unbelievable Port Arthur segment. Retrieved January 29, 2025, from CairnsNews.org:
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