Sniper threat against construction firm Multiplex

A Multiplex Group boss has issued a reassurance to New Zealand workers that they are safe, following a sniper threat against the firm's highrise tower crane drivers in Australia.

International construction firm Multiplex has been threatened with sniper attacks on its workers on building sites around the world if the company does not hand over millions of dollars today.

Multiplex has construction interests in New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates as well as Australia and the UK.

The extortion bid against Australia's largest construction firm originated in Sydney, the company's UK managing director Martin Tidd said today.

Although the extortion threat was being taken seriously, Tidd acknowledged it could be an elaborate hoax.

Dan Ashby, the Auckland-based boss of Multiplex Constructions (NZ), said any inquiries about the threats were being referred to Adam Roach, a consultant at Multiplex in Sydney.

Mr Roach said that the New Zealand business was unaffected by the threats but that in Australia various meetings had been arranged.

"At the moment, the company is briefing employees and the unions are consulting with their workers and updating people," Mr Roach said.

New Zealanders at Multiplex had been informed of the threat, Mr Roach said, but no more steps were being taken here and any specific inquiries should be directed to Australian police, he said.

He downplayed the threat of an extortion bid against dozens of workers here on Auckland sites, saying the problems were centred on Australia and Britain.

Multiplex has tower cranes on two Auckland sites:

Residences @ Harbour City, a 38-level 378-unit block being built at 42-58 Fort St near the Gore St intersection, in front of the Vero Centre; Zest being built at 72-78 Nelson St. The highrise block is being developed by Conrad Properties from Sydney.

A New South Wales police spokeswoman earlier said detectives were investigating a plot to extort money from Multiplex, which built Sydney's Olympic stadium and is redeveloping London's famous Wembley Stadium.

Channel Nine last night reported the extortion bid included a threat that snipers would begin shooting Multiplex crane drivers on building sites around the world if the company did not hand over A$50 million ($54.9 million) within 24 hours.

The network reported the threat was "international" but was believed to have originated in Sydney, although police were unable to confirm this.

Tidd said the company was taking all steps possible to ensure the welfare of its workforce, including consultation with relevant unions.

"I can't comment on the specifics of the threat because it's subject to ongoing police investigation," Tidd told AAP in London.

"The criminal threat was made in Sydney and that's why it's under New South Wales jurisdiction, but clearly we are treating it as a threat on a global scale."

Tidd could not confirm reports of alleged Russian mafia links to the extortion bid or say whether it involved specific major projects by Multiplex in the UK, such as redevelopment of Wembley Stadium.

The metropolitan police service in London said in a statement that they were "working closely with the Australian police, the victim and the unions to monitor the situation and minimise any potential risk".

Multiplex earlier said that officers from New Scotland Yard were "in regular contact with the New South Wales police" regarding the threat against the company.

The state crime command's robbery and serious crime squad in NSW are in charge of the investigation.

Multiplex is ranked among the top building contractors in the UK but its share price slid here last week after news that its massive Wembley redevelopment project will be lucky to break even.

The company's founding Roberts family yesterday agreed to personally indemnify Multiplex up to A$50 million ($54.98 million) in respect of any future losses on the Wembley project.

The Sydney Morning Herald today reported that Multiplex was threatened over the past four weeks with sniper attacks unless the company handed over A$50 million.

The paper said it understood the extortionists had threatened to have a sniper shoot at a crane driver at an unspecified Multiplex site somewhere around the world today.

Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) NSW secretary Andrew Ferguson said Multiplex management and workers were taking the threat seriously.

"Its a very specific threat," Mr Ferguson told ABC radio.

"If A$50 million hasn't been paid, someone would kill a crane driver on a Multiplex site somewhere in the world, and if you're a crane driver you'd take that sort of threat very seriously."

However, Sydney crane drivers working at the company's building sites would remain on the job regardless.

"I've certainly spoken to crane drivers in Sydney (and) their indication last night was to drive the cranes," he said.

"Those workers would have discussed the issue with their families last night, but I anticipate that their resolve continues (and) cranes will be operating in Sydney without interruption."

No explanation had been offered as to why police made public the threat yesterday despite having known about it for four weeks, the Herald said.

Multiplex NZ Properties Funds has 11 finished NZ properties valued at $273 million. It includes the high rise office tower the ASB Bank Centre on Albert St and some Woolworths, Countdown and Foodtown stores.

Multiplex's best-known job here is the Metropolis apartment tower in the CBD which it built about five years ago. The builder has almost finished Victopia, an apartment complex opposite TVNZ at the intersection of Nelson St and Victoria St West.

- AAP and Herald