A 39-year-old man, who was subject to an arrest warrant for failing to answer bail, is facing firearm and family violence charges following a police operation in Whitlam on Wednesday evening.

Police allege the man assaulted his pregnant partner, punching her in the head several times.

Witnesses report seeding the woman leave the residence with the man following her holding a firearm. He is reported to have fallen over causing the gun to discharge into the air.

Police responded with patrols, Territory Targeting Team, AFP Dog Team, AFP Tactical Response and AFP negotiators. It became known to police that two children were inside the man’s residence.

Between 7.22pm and 7.45pm, police allege the man discharged the firearm 12 times at various locations within the home, aiming and firing at police four times. During this time, the man made several violent threats to police and the children.

He was subsequently arrested after losing his balance climbing a back fence and falling to the ground.

The two children were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.