A man accused of firing five shots at Canberra airport sparking mass evacuations did not have any staff from the ABC removed from his first court appearance.
Ali Rachid Ammoun, 63, from NSW, wore a Hawaiian shirt when facing ACT Magistrates Court on Monday.
Ammoun is charged with opening fire on a building, illegally possessing a firearm and firing a gun near a person to raise an alarm after he was arrested for allegedly shooting into a window on Sunday afternoon.
Ammoun’s legal aid lawyer Tamzin Lee ordered an injunction barring ABC from reporting the case, but the application was challenged by the prosecution and the judge.
“I am pleased that this is an open court and that the ABC has the right to report on such matters … unless there is good cause to block proceedings,” judge Robert Cook told the court. .
Ali Rachid Ammoun, 63, was charged after five shots were fired at Canberra airport on Sunday. The airport has been evacuated
Ammoun did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody overnight behind bars.
He did not deny any charges and Judge Cook ordered him to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
Police allege Ammoun arrived at the airport around 1:20 p.m. Sunday, and he sat in a chair near the check-in desk before firing five rounds into the window.
No one was injured in the incident but the airport was evacuated and closed for about three hours.
Footage posted to Facebook shows a man being held by police inside the airport following the alleged shooting.
Images posted to social media show bullet holes in lounge windows (pictured) with reports suggesting the alleged shooter had fired at the glass multiple times
Ammoun did not undergo any security checks and police believe he was acting alone.
Speaking at a news conference on Sunday, Acting Detective Chief Executive Dave Craft said police ‘don’t know’ about the man’s motives behind the alleged assault.
He said Ammoun did not target any passengers or staff and did not do any flight checks.
“I just need to reassure everyone that the airport is safe, ACT Policing has responded and there is no ongoing threat to the community or passengers coming and going,” he said.
Detective Craft said the man spent about five minutes sitting in the departures area on the second floor before allegedly shooting bullets into an airport window.
The shooting caused travel chaos with several passengers stranded on their plane while the alleged shooter was under arrest.
The 63-year-old will have to appear in court again on September 5.
Prosecutor Anthony Williamson is seen leaving court on Monday. Ammoun’s case will be heard again next month
