Porepunkah shooting: Slain Victoria Police officers named as search for suspected gunman continues — as it happened

Here's a recap of the days events as the search continues overnight:

• The suspected gunman Dezi Freeman remains at large after shooting and killing two police officers and injuring another in Porepunkah, Victoria yesterday. 

• The two officers were 59-year-old Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and 35-year-old Senior Constable Vadim De Waart. 

• The 56-year-old accused gunman claims to be a sovereign citizen and is on the run in the region 300km north-east of Melbourne.

• Police have not had any confirmed sightings of the alleged gunman and say he is an experienced bushman who knows the dense bushland area better than authorities.

• All aircraft are now banned from flying over the Porepunkah search area until 11.30am Friday. 

• He is believed to be heavily armed. Locals in Porepunkah have been told to stay inside until he is found.

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Earlier today, Commissioner Bush said, Dezi Freeman knows the Mount Buffalo National park well. 

"He will know the area better than us," he said in a press conference today.

The park has been described as "dangerous, steep and unforgiving land" by Andrew Badrock, an experienced trail runner in the area.

"It's harsh land," he said.

"It's a really steep bit of land, there's no roads in and out of there."

He said the weather cloaks the mountain and makes survival very difficult.

"The average person wouldn't survive a night," he said.

A Victoria police spokesperson has given the ABC an update on the search.

Here's what they told us:

◾The search for suspected Porepunkah gunman Dezi Freeman is ongoing throughout the night with "strong numbers of police in some areas".

◾For operation purposes, police did not disclose the exact number of police on the ground.

◾Police encourage local residents to stay inside.

A former magistrate issued a stark warning a week ago about the sovereign citizen movement in Australia.

"Governments are underestimating the reach and threats of these movements," David Heilpern told Four Corners.

Experts who have been tracking the sovereign citizen movement say there was a clear inflection point: the "Convoy to Canberra" protest held outside Parliament House in early 2022.

You can read more by my colleagues Mahmood Fazal, Amy Donaldson and Dylan Welch here ⬇️

The search for the alleged Porepunkah shooter continues into the night.

In a post on Facebook, police in Wangaratta shared a "heartfelt thank you" to everyone who had reached out with flowers, cards and messages of support.

"This is a very difficult time for our police family here at Wangaratta, but knowing that our community is standing beside us truly means the world," the post says.

As announced by Premier Jacinta Allan, buildings will be lit up in blue this evening across Melbourne and wider Victoria in tribute to two fallen police officers.

ABC reporter Ashlee Aldridge in Porepunkah says the weather is turning really icy at the scene.

"Police have just reopened Mount buffalo road after another large contingent of police cars left," she said.

"There are now no emergency services at the scene."

Mount Buffalo Road leads to Rayner Track, where the shooting happened.

The Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation says it's shocked and saddened by the deaths of the two officers at Porepunkah.

A minute's silence was held at its board meeting last night and Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart will be the focus of upcoming Blue Ribbon Foundation events.

"At the appropriate time we will reach out to the families to plan and create living memorials for those slain officers, as we have done for others when these tragic events occur," the foundation said in a statement.

It has wished a third officer a speedy recovery from his injuries.

"We will remember them and their sacrifice."

Parks Victoria has announced Mount Buffalo National Park is closed until further notice due to the continuing search for alleged shooter Dezi Freeman.

The shooting has happened at the foot of Mount Buffalo, with Porepunkah surrounded by the national park.

It's well regarded for activities like hiking, camping and kayaking.

"If you had plans to visit Mount Buffalo National Park, please find an alternative.

"The thoughts of everyone at Parks Victoria are with the families of the officers and their colleagues."

The ABC has seen two Bearcats (tactical armoured vehicles) leave Mount Buffalo Road, along with a large number of vehicles.

These include two mica paramedics, specialised in critical care.

Mount Buffalo Road has been blocked off and leads to Rayner Track where the shooting happened.

The weather has begun to worsen, with gusty winds and patches of heavy rain coming through.

ABC journalist Ashlee Aldridge is at Mount Buffalo Road in Porepunkah.

The suspected gunman wanted over the deadly shootings of two police officers last year complained to a court that he had his firearms licence cancelled and lost membership to his gun club.

Read more about Dezi Freeman here:

Police and emergency services have endured a cold, wet day at Porepunkah.

ABC Radio Melbourne reporter Kate Meade earlier today described the wind as "bitter" as the temperature hovered in the single digits for most of the day.

Freezing conditions and 25mm to 30mm of rain are forecast for both Thursday and Friday.

Education Minister Ben Carroll confirms that Porepunkah Primary School will open tomorrow.

The school endured an hours-long lockdown in the immediate aftermath of the shooting on Tuesday.

Mr Carroll says the school handled the situation exceptionally well.

"By coincidence, this school is actually well-trained in lockdowns, emergency services procedures ... they actually conducted one a few weeks ago," he says.

"It was a textbook the way this school operated yesterday."

The school currently has 106 students and 12 teachers.

Mr Carroll says a range of support services will be present tomorrow at the school, including counsellors and psychologists.

He says attendance will be up to parent's individual discretion.

Ms Allan is quizzed about whether the government will be taking any action regarding sovereign citizens in the state.

She says she is not focused on this group of people at this time.

"Frankly today, I am not focused on the conspiracy theories," Ms Allan says.

Ms Allan says she will leave the operational detail for police to divulge.

She says while she understands the public interest in the manhunt, she will not speak to the details of the case.

Ms Allan says it is still "very, very early", but promised that the government would work in coming days to determine what support could be given to the local community in Porepunkah.

"What happened yesterday was a tragedy," Ms Allan says.

"It's hurt so many families."

Ms Allan says she will be speaking with the families of the two dead police officers at some stage.

Ms Allan says she has had multiple briefings regarding the operation in north-east Victoria.

She says NSW authorities have offered to lend assistance and resources.

"There are huge resources being put on the ground" she says.

Police Minister Anthony Carbines thanks the families of Vadim De Waart and Neal Thompson for the sacrifice the pair had made.

He says the operation to bring the alleged gunman, Dezi Freeman, into custody is ongoing.

Ms Allan repeated Chief Commissioner Bush's words yesterday, stating police would find the culprit.

"Every resource is being dedicated to finding this criminal," Ms Allan says.

"And every resource will be added to if the Chief Commissioner needs additional support."

As we've reported previously, Ms Allan confirms that prominent buildings across Melbourne and Victoria will be lit up in blue this evening to pay tribute to the fallen police officers.

"It's a way, a very physical way that we can say to the men and women of Victoria Police: we stand with you," Ms Allan says.

Ms Allan says the government will support those affected by the tragedy.

"For those families who have lost loved ones, there will be many difficult days ahead," Ms Allan says.

"We must continue to hold them in our thoughts and in our hearts as we continue to provide them with every support we can."