Mount Buffalo National Park in Victoria has reopend nearly two months after it was closed due to an extensive police manhunt for alleged police killer Dezi Freeman.
Freeman, also known as Desmond Filby, is accused of fatally shooting Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart on 26 August at a property in Porepunkah, in the state’s northeast. A third officer was also injured in the incident.
Following the shooting, Freeman reportedly fled on foot into surrounding bushland, prompting police to close sections of the national park as hundreds of officers scoured the area in search of him.
Victoria Police have now confirmed that parts of the park will reopen, although some areas will remain off-limits to the public.
“Some sections will continue to be restricted and members of the public will be prohibited from entering,” police said in a statement.
Over the course of the manhunt, officers spoke with more than 800 people, including several of Freeman’s known associates, and searched hundreds of properties either with the owner’s permission or by warrant.
Despite the extensive search, Freeman has not yet been located.
“This work has given Victoria Police the confidence to reopen the park, understanding how important it is to the local community,” the statement said.
Police stressed that the reopening does not mark the end of the search, and a strong police presence will remain in the area.