Victim of siege in Weir Views reveals terrifying details about tense two-hour police operation

A Melbourne father-of-five caught up in a terrifying siege with his baby has detailed the moment an allegedly armed man entered his home while the pair were sleeping, sparking a tense two-hour stand-off with police.

Ali and his one-year-old son were rescued from their Weir Views home by tactical police about 6pm on Wednesday night, putting an end to an hours-long ordeal that began 115km away.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Man in Melbourne shoots at police before barricading himself inside home

An alleged gunman on the run from police is accused of breaking into the family’s home after allegedly carrying out an aggravated carjacking near Ballarat earlier in the day.

The 26-year-old man allegedly stole a car from a 70-year-old woman in Snake Valley about 2.30pm before driving it to the Melton area where he arrived just over an hour later.

The Police Air Wing followed the car to Leon Dr in Weir Views, where the man exited the vehicle before allegedly attempting a further carjacking.

Police patrolling the area came across the man who challenged the officers, allegedly firing a shot at them.

None of the officers were hit.

The man then allegedly broke into Ali’s home who was sleeping with his son at the time.

Ali woke when his son began crying and asking for his mother.

He went to find his wife, but quickly realised she had left to go and pick up their other children from school.

It was then that Ali noticed his daughter’s bedroom was locked and that someone was inside.

“I tried to open (the door) and I heard a noise that was someone inside (who allegedly said) ‘I have a gun, I’ll kill you if you come inside’,” he told 7NEWS on Wednesday.

“I was fully awake when I heard that.”

Ali said he went back to his bedroom and called his wife, who informed him she had been trying to get home but couldn’t as police had barricaded the surrounding streets.

He then called emergency services, informing them the alleged gunman was inside his home.

“As soon as I called them they were with me the whole time,” Ali said.

“(I) slowly (said) what they told me to do, I followed their instructions.”

Ali and his son remained trapped inside the home with the alleged gunman, who was still in the room, for a further two-and-a-half hours before police moved in to rescue them.

They broke a front window and began negotiating with the man to remove the pair, during which time police allege another shot was fired.

It’s not believed the shot was aimed at Ali or his son.

The pair were taken out of the home through the window and police moved in on the man who allegedly fired a third shot.

Superintendent Michael Cruse said a police dog was deployed on the man who was then arrested.

He suffered a dog bite and remains at the Royal Melbourne Hospital however is expected to be released today before being interviewed and charged.

‘I couldn’t sleep’

While Ali said his baby was doing OK, he and his wife were still trying to come to terms with what had happened the day before.

“To be honest, I couldn’t sleep last night,” he said.

“It’s unexplainable, if (you’ve never) faced this sort of situation (before) you wouldn’t be able to understand.

“My wife is traumatised ... she was saying we’re not gonna stay here.”

Ali praised the police for their actions, with Cruse saying he was “extremely proud” of the officers who responded.

“They showed bravery and courage in the execution of their duties,” he said.

Cruse said it was fortunate the outcome of the situation was not worse.

“The (alleged) offending is very serious and it’s completely unacceptable that police members were exposed to this kind of danger,” Cruse said.

“Having said that ... we had a really strong plan and we tried to make it as planned and as safe as possible.”

The man, who is known to police, was allegedly in possession of a high-powered rifle. It’s unclear at this stage if he was a licensed gun owner.

It’s also unclear if the man was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, however, Cruse said he was “acting erratically” in the backyard before entering the home.

The man has been charged with a range of offences including aggravated carjacking (firearm), five counts of assault police, five counts of discharge firearm reckless to safety of police officer, two counts of false imprisonment, trespass, theft of a motor vehicle and make threat to kill, among other offences.