NSW: Aquilina breaks silence over massacre gun reference

AAP General News (Australia)
04-19-2001
NSW: Aquilina breaks silence over massacre gun reference

The Education Minister has reportedly broken his silence in the widening row over how
a reference to a gun became involved in an alleged threat of a school massacre.

Mr AQUILINA told the Sydney Morning Herald in London yesterday the gun issue came about
when he was advised that the police had indicated there was a gun in the house.

But last night the NSW Police Service issued a blunt statement saying that at no stage
did police either have any information or release any information regarding the involvement
of a gun or a shooter's licence in the incident, the newspaper reports today.

In a ministerial statement to Parliament on April 10, Mr AQUILINA told of the discovery
of a diary in which an unnamed 15-year-old allegedly outlined plans to kill fellow students
at a school assembly.

Later that evening, staff members from at least two ministries - Education and Premier's
- briefed journalists, referring to a restricted firearm licence allegedly held by the
youth's father.

According to the newspaper, the Premier added to the confusion yesterday, telling Channel
9 that members of his staff had evidence at that time that a gun was involved.

AAP RTV as/psm

KEYWORD: MASSACRE AQUILINA (SYDNEY)

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