No-nonsense judge blasts ‘incredibly stupid’ Uber driver who sparked huge security scare when he allegedly waved a pistol outside Parliament House
An Uber driver has been branded ‘incredibly stupid’ by a judge after allegedly brandishing a water pistol that looked like a pistol outside Parliament House.
Dozens of officers converged on the building in Sydney’s CBD on Thursday afternoon after Waqar Hassan Virk, 28, allegedly pulled out a ‘Glock’ imitation water gun and fired it from his car.
Virk appeared via video link at Downing Center Local Court on Friday morning, where the court heard he allegedly drove behind Parliament House, stuck his arm with the fake gun out the window and shot a substance, believed to be water, out of it.
The entire alleged incident was captured on Parliament’s CCTV footage.
His alleged actions were strongly condemned by Magistrate Greg Grogan, who said it was fortunate that Virk was not tasered or even shot by police.
“I have no idea why anyone would take such an object to such a high-profile place and wave it around… it’s beyond me why he would do that and think it was okay,” Magistrate Grogan said. Sydney Morning Herald reported.
‘If committing a very stupid act in public were punishable, Virk would undoubtedly plead guilty at the first opportunity.’
Virk had bought the gun on Tuesday as a gift for his nephew in Pakistan, where he sends money to his family.
Dozens of officers converged outside Parliament House on Thursday after Waqar Hassan Virk (pictured) allegedly pulled out a ‘Glock’ imitation water gun and fired it from his car
Virk (pictured) is alleged to have sparked a large-scale incident in which dozens of police officers surrounded and searched the grounds of the NSW Parliament on Thursday.
Virk reportedly brandished the water gun (pictured) which looked very similar to a real gun
The 28-year-old had driven away from Parliament House before officers arrived.
He was arrested four hours later near Sydney Airport and charged with possession of an unauthorized firearm.
Virk was granted bail on the condition that he surrender his passport to police, not travel domestically and keep more than a kilometer between himself and Hospital Road or NSW Parliament House.
He faces a prison sentence of up to five years and will appear in court again on November 29.
Virk’s Toyota Camry has custom license plates and a sticker of his own face on one of the rear windows.
Another car he owns says ‘VIRK…!’ written in a window.
Virk works as an Uber and truck driver and sends money to his family in Pakistan