A property in Sydney’s south raided for suspicious items

Australian border force officials have raided a flat in Sydney’s south, with unconfirmed reports of a radioactive substance found inside.

Transcript

00:00 It's all quiet now on this suburban street in Sydney, but that wasn't the case this morning.

00:08 Border Force agents raided a flat here early this morning and established a crime scene.

00:13 They, along with emergency services, have spent the day coming and going from one of

00:17 these units, even carrying out materials appearing to be hazardous.

00:22 A neighbour has told me he heard strange noises just after 9 o'clock last night.

00:28 Then this morning, at around about half past six, Border Force agents knocked on his door,

00:33 apparently telling him he needed to leave his property due to what was potentially hazardous

00:38 material found next door.

00:39 I just looked to my right and I would see roughly about six to seven ambulances, ten

00:45 fire trucks and two federal police cars, and men in hazmat suits and other German Shepherd

00:53 dogs with the police.

00:55 And it was just kind of terrifying because I didn't know what was happening.

00:58 Well, I'm still a bit nervous because I don't know what's happening.

01:02 Several neighbours allege the man who lives in the unit that was raided works for Border

01:08 Force at the airport.

01:10 Now in what can only be described as a truly bizarre situation, Border Force appears to

01:15 have prevented other emergency services from speaking to the media about what has happened

01:20 here today, and it itself has also gone to ground, not providing any commentary on what

01:25 has happened, not confirming any details, not denying any details that we are putting

01:31 to officials.

01:32 In fact, they won't even confirm if hazardous material has been found here, despite the

01:38 fact that there is clearly tape cordoning off this whole area with symbols of hazardous

01:44 material.

01:45 It's all creating a truly strange situation.

01:49 When asked if community safety was at risk and if there is any more information for those

01:54 living nearby, Border Force said that neighbours should adhere to the advice provided to them

01:59 by emergency services on the ground.

02:02 But there are no emergency services left on the ground.

02:04 They left hours ago and neighbours haven't been provided with any updates.

02:08 They say they have not been told if it is safe to come back outside or to return to

02:13 their properties.

02:14 They simply have returned to their properties because they've been waiting for so long.

02:18 It's all creating a very mysterious situation about just what has transpired here today.

02:23 And it's also paving the way for a lot of speculation.

02:26 [BLANK_AUDIO]