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Australian police will visibly carry long-arm rifles at the final Ashes test in Sydney following the Bondi terror attack.
New South Wales (NSW) Police said uniformed and mounted police will be present at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), alongside Public Order and Riot Squad (PORS) officers with their weaponsvisible.
The officers will perform high visibility patrols to reassure the public and ensure safety, a NSW police spokesperson said.
Assistant Commissioner Leanne McCusker APM reassured spectators the visibility of the rifles is not because of a specific threat.
“I want to emphasise that there is not any active or imminent threat,” McCusker said.
“All PORS officers are rifle trained and have been for some time, this does not reflect any recent change in capability or weaponry.”
“Many people may not be used to seeing police carrying rifles at sporting events, but our objective here is to help the public feel safe and police will be out in force,” NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said.
Australian police will carry long-arm rifles at the final Ashes test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground following the Bondi attack. Photo / Ethan Rohloff
“The difference will be in the visibility of long-arms and a stronger presence.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the attack as an act of “evil anti-Semitism”, while NSW Premier Chris Minns said the attack was a “terrible night for Sydney”.
Specialist police armed with long-arm rifles also patrolled the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the Boxing Day Ashes Test in the wake of the incident, with Victoria police saying the move was done to reassure fans the event was safe.
Police in New Zealand stepped up security at Jewish sites around the country after the attack, including armed officers seen outside the Holocaust Centre of New Zealand in Wellington.
A sold-out crowd of 48,000 is expected to fill the SCG despite Australia already beating England and currently leading the series 3-1.
