1993 Jolimont Centre siege
 | The article's lead section may need to be rewritten. (June 2011) |
| Jolimont Centre siege | |
|---|---|
 Australian Federal Police Special Operations Team approaching the Jolimont Centre wearing breathing apparatus. | |
| Location | Jolimont Centre, Canberra, Australia |
| Date | 29 November 1993 07:30am-9:30am |
Attack type | hostage-taking, shooting, bombing |
| Weapons | 12-gauge shotgun |
| Deaths | One (gunshot) |
| Injured | One (gunshot), |
| Perpetrators | Felipe Ruizdiaz |
The Jolimont Centre, located in Canberra, the Australian Capital Territory was the home of the Department of Industrial Relations.
In November 1993 an event known as the "The Jolimont Centre siege" took place resulting in the serious wounding on one person and the death of another over the course of two hours. The centre was set on fire and extensive damage was caused by a lone gunman.[1]
Events
About 7:30am on 29 November 1993 47 year-old Felipe Ruizdiaz shot and wounded local pool manager, Geoff McGibbon at the Dickson Swimming Pool in Canberra before crashing his utility vehicle rigged with petrol and gas canisters through the front glass walls of the six story Jolimont Centre, home of the Department of Industrial Relations in Canberra, Australia in an apparent revenge attack on his estranged wife. Ruizdiaz threw several petrol bombs and shot at the responding fire brigade and police officers.[1][2]
During the two hour siege Ruizdiaz shot at police and rescue workers using his 12-gauge shotgun before setting fire to the building and killing himself.[3] The fire and explosions hampered rescue and police efforts and caused several million dollars worth of damage to the centre.[1]
Two local radios stations and numerous employees were inside the centre at the time requiring tactical police to assists in their evacuation. After several explosions resulting in the street being showered with broken glass Australian Federal Police Special Operations Team wearing breathing apparatus entered the centre locating the deceased gunman with shotgun wounds to his stomach and his body badly burned.[1]