A 60-year-old man has been arrested after unleashing a barrage of gunfire on a busy street in Sydney’s Inner West, injuring 20 people in a shocking incident that unfolded over nearly two hours on Sunday evening.

New South Wales police said the suspect fired up to 100 bullets at passing vehicles and officers between 7:45 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., prompting a swift lockdown of the area.

One victim sustained a gunshot wound and drove himself to the hospital, while 19 others were treated for injuries caused by shrapnel and shattered glass. Several were hospitalized.

Acting NSW Police Superintendent Stephen Parry described the incident as “serious and terrifying.” A large police contingent eventually entered a unit above a business and apprehended the gunman, who was also treated for injuries sustained during the arrest. Two rifles were recovered from the scene.

Eyewitness Joe Azar told the Sydney Morning Herald that he initially mistook the gunfire for fireworks. “Some guy’s windshield blew up, then the bus stop glass shattered,” he recalled.

Authorities have ruled out links to terrorism or gang activity, and an investigation is ongoing. Mass shootings are rare in Australia, where strict gun laws have been in place since 1996 following the Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania, which claimed 35 lives.

The incident has reignited discussions around public safety and mental health, with officials urging calm as forensic teams continue to examine the scene.