A round from a police officer’s Glock pistol gun was fired at the Ekka in Brisbane on Saturday.
As reported by Brisbane Times, the round was accidentally fired through a floor and into an unoccupied storage area at the RNA showgrounds in the RACQ Pavilion.
7 News reports the junior police officer wrapped a lanyard around the Glock pistol to identify it as hers, but when she was placing the gun into her holster, it discharged one bullet.
While no one was harmed, an internal investigation is now underway to determine whether correct protocols and procedures were followed.
“Police took immediate actions to ensure no one in the area had been injured,” a Queensland Police Service spokeswoman said.
The QLD Police Service spokeswoman said arrangements are now in place “to mitigate risk to any members of the public during the handling of weapons by officers at the RNA showgrounds.”
The spokesperson said QPS officers receive ongoing firearms training, and that the number of unintentional discharges is very low.
“The Glocks used by the QPS are very safe for operational firearms, which differ markedly from sporting weapons, she said. “They have safety features built into their design to help prevent unintentional discharges occurring.”
A week ago, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland completed a safety audit of the amusement rides and equipment at this year’s Ekka. Safety has been a big priority this year with the WHSQ doing general safety checks around amusement rides, traffic management, licensing, construction and electrical issues.
