Armed police start patrols in Sydney after Bondi Beach attack

Heavily-armed police officers have begun patrolling Sydney's streets as part of heightened security measures following a deadly shooting at Bondi Beach last year. The Armed Response Command (ARC) will see specially trained officers in busy tourist areas carrying long-arm rifles, an unfamiliar sight for most residents. The officers will also patrol major events like sports matches and places of worship "to prevent, deter and rapidly respond to serious threats, including active armed offender incidents."

The attack in December left 15 people dead, including a 10-year-old girl, and prompted sweeping gun law reforms and a crackdown on hate speech. While some residents feel safer with the police presence, others find the sight unnerving, with Amnesty International Australia expressing concern about the "militarisation of policing."

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