Motivation behind police station shooting unclear

The alleged offender fled from the scene in his vehicle but the Armed Offenders Squad located him just outside of Palmerston North and arrested him without incident. Photo / File

The motivations of a man who fired shots at two Palmerston North police stations last night remain unclear, police say.

Acting Central District area commander Inspector Peter Cooper said a man got out of his vehicle and fired an unknown number of shots at the windows of the Highbury policing centre shortly after 8pm.

The man then went to the Palmerston North police station and entered the reception, where a staff member was sitting behind a ceiling to floor barrier.

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He then fired two shots at the glass doors and barriers. As he left, he fired two more shots, Mr Cooper said.

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The man then got into his vehicle and drove towards Whanganui. After he was spotted by patrol cars and followed for a distance, the man then drove back towards Palmerston North.

Mr Cooper said road spikes were eventually used to stop the man.

"Police units were able to get into position and stop the pursuit and he's been taken into custody without any real issues."

A shotgun and the man's vehicle had been recovered by police, and would undergo forensic testing today.

At this stage, there were no indications as to what motivated the man, he said.

"Early indications are this is not an attack on a police station or a police member ... but we will have to thrash that out as time goes on there will be more dialogue with him.

"At this stage his motivations are unclear, but early indications are that police were not necessarily the target."

Mr Cooper said the Highbury policing centre was locked up and unattended at the time of the incident.

There were no members of the public in the foyer at the Palmerston North police station, however, there was a police constable at the counter.

She remained shaken today, Mr Cooper said.

"We've got some support around her ... Leadership teams in the Manawatu are putting things around her to help her out. Certainly upset by the event, but coping well."

A 30-year-old Palmerston North man is now facing firearms and driving related charges, police said. He will appear in Palmerston North District Court today.

Mr Cooper said police inquiries were continuing.

"We've got some more conversations to have with this individual, we'll work out some motivations and stuff as things go on."

He said the man had acted alone.

"This is one individual, it is not a series of offending. It is down to this individuals actions, so we aren't seeking anyone else at this time."