Sydney Police Uncover a Huge Stash of Guns in Former Prison Officer's Home

Police have arrested a former prison guard and placed him in a mental health facility for assessment after he was allegedly found stockpiling guns, ammo, swords, and crossbows at a home in Sydney’s west. Authorities swooped on 64-year-old Michael Kay’s Richmond home last week following a tip-off from the Australian Border Force about a number of firearm parts that were being imported into the country.

"The male was taking the garbage out and during his arrest, they (officers) located five edge-weapons on his person,” NSW Police's Acting Commander of the State Crime Command Stuart Smith revealed. "Police were certainly not prepared for what followed."

Executing two search warrants on Kay’s property, police uncovered an arsenal of stockpiled weapons including five rifles—among them, a semi-automatic Norinco SKS—five handguns, three crossbows, more than 2000 rounds of ammunition, more than 100 arrows, more than 100 knives and swords, tomahawks, bulletproof vests, face masks, and handcuffs. Officers also discovered several “terrorism response” books written by “famous snipers”, the ABC reported.

Kay has been labelled a “deeply disturbed individual who was highly trained with military grade weaponry”. The former prison officer received weapons training before he was ultimately dismissed by corrective services, and in 2009 had his firearms licence revoked in light of serious mental health concerns.

“The threat was real, it was significant, and it was imminent,” Det. Supt Smith declared yesterday. “What we found was a deeply troubled individual… This person posed a significant risk to the community.”

Kay is expected to be facing multiple firearms and weapons offences upon his release from hospital, Nine News reports. In clarifying why the case was referred to the NSW Drug and Firearms squad and not counter-terrorism authorities, Det. Supt Smith said the charges were “in relation to a transactional inquiry by the individual… buying tactical equipment and firearms accessories.”

Kay’s personal Facebook page features multiple pictures of firearms. Over the course of the past six months he’s also shared a post claiming that “being a corrections officer destroys your life”, an article stating that “PTSD, Depression, Suicide and Divorce are Highest Among Correctional Officers”, and a link to the Henry Lawson poem “Every Man Should Have A Rifle”.