Police armed with assault rifles patrol Sydney in Australian first after Bondi attack
A new police unit armed with military assault rifles has begun patrolling the streets of Sydney, in an Australian-first measure set up in response to the Bondi Beach attack last December. The Armed Response Command (ARC) would deploy at major events, crowded public spaces, sporting venues and places of worship to conduct “high visibility” patrols, New South Wales state police said. The move comes…
The Australian police have introduced a new unit equipped with assault rifles, patrolling Sydney streets for the first time following a tragic Bondi Beach attack in December. The Armed Response Command (ARC), comprising 250 officers and costing A$94 million, is deployed in high-profile locations such as sporting venues and places of worship to provide "high visibility" patrols.
Detective Superintendent Andrew Evans, the unit's commander, explained that the tragic events at Bondi Beach highlighted the need for highly trained officers with the right equipment to respond swiftly in emergencies. However, Amnesty International Australia raised concerns about the militarization of policing and the safeguards for human rights.
The Bondi Beach attack resulted in the death of 15 people, including Naveed Akram, 25, who is currently on trial for 78 charges, including 15 counts of murder and one of committing a terrorist act. The case against Akram has been delayed until February 24 as prosecutors review over 1,500 witness statements and hundreds of hours of CCTV footage.
Meanwhile, another individual was charged for allegedly claiming he was injured in the massacre to seek compensation, and a state government scheme offered support to victims, ranging from A$5,000 for injuries to up to A$30,000 for economic loss.
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Also reported by 4 other outlets
- Police unit with assault rifles begins Sydney patrols in wake of Bondi attack freemalaysiatoday.com
- Police with assault rifles begin Sydney patrols in wake of Bondi attack brecorder.com
- Police with assault rifles begin Sydney patrols in wake of Bondi attack jpost.com
- Police with assault rifles begin Sydney patrols in wake of Bondi attack channelnewsasia.com
