Australian Police arrested a 60-year-old man of Greek origin named Aretemios Myndzaswho opened fire on passers-by and cars in the suburbs Croydon Park in Sydney. According to officials, he fired about 50 shots, wounding 16 people.
The incident occurred late on Sunday evening. Mindzas fired from the window of an apartment located above a commercial premises at passers-by, cars and nearby buildings. According to police, he acted “indiscriminately”. As a result, 13 cars and a bus stop were damaged.
Special forces arrived at the scene NSW Policewho negotiated and simultaneously exchanged fire with the criminal. The area was completely cordoned off for more than two hours. At about 9:30 p.m., special forces stormed the apartment and detained the shooter. During his arrest, he received a slight injury to his eye from glass shards and was taken to hospital. Bankstownwhere did you go psychiatric evaluation.
According to police, Mindzas is accused of 25 counts, including 18 cases attempted murderas well as illegal possession and use of firearms to evade arrest. At the time of his arrest, he behaved calmly and cooperated with the investigation. Deputy Chief Constable Stephen Parry noted that Mindzas had had little contact with police over the past 20 years and had no history of mental illness.
“It’s a miracle that no one died. In 35 years of service, I have almost never seen someone shoot at people on the street so randomly,” Parry said.
Victims and progress of the investigation
As a result of the incident 16 people were injuredfive of them remain in the hospital. Most suffered from shrapnel and shock. One man, about 50 years old, received bullet wounds to his neck and chest and was urgently operated on. His condition is assessed as stable.
⚠️ WARNING: This post contains graphic descriptions of violence & injury
A 60-year-old man has been arrested in Croydon Park, an inner-west suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, after allegedly firing “indiscriminately” at passing vehicles, including police cars, from a residential… pic.twitter.com/uEr2T7V6fI
— True Crime Updates (@TrueCrimeUpdat) October 5, 2025
Police are investigating how the shooter acquired the weapon and whether he had license for its storage. Authorities emphasize that they have no evidence linking the incident to organized crime, terrorism, alcohol or drugs.
Eyewitnesses: “It was like a war”
Residents in the area described the incident as chaos and panic. Cafe owner Croydon Park Kebab House said that she first heard two shots, and then “an endless “bang, bang, bang” began.” According to her, the smell of gunpowder was so strong that it penetrated into the room. The woman and her visitors took refuge inside until the end of the police operation.
On Monday morning, the streets of the area resembled a scene from an action movie: bullet-scarred walls, broken windows, traces of a special operation. Deputy Police Commissioner Trent King described the incident as “unprecedented for Sydney” and noted that such a mass shooting without deaths is extremely rare.
Local resident Matt Yokowho works at a veterinary clinic nearby, said that he arrived at the scene a few minutes after the shooting began: “If I had passed here a little earlier, I might not have been alive.”
Court and further actions
Myndzas refused bail. His first court hearing is scheduled for Tuesday at Burwood Local Court.. The investigation is ongoing as police look into the motive and origin of the weapon he used.
More Stories
The death of a 48-year-old man is being investigated in Pieria: the body was found with signs of violent death
“You won’t get rid of us”: how Chinese curators controlled a Greek Air Force officer
In Greece, a criminal scheme of 250 people with tax evasion of 48 million euros was uncovered