The multi-million-dollar unit will maintain a high-visibility presence across crowded gathering spots, sports venues, places of worship, and major public events across Sydney. Formed in response to an Islamic State-inspired antisemitic attack at Bondi Beach, the team is intended to confront active assailants rapidly. The initiative reflects a major tactical shift for Australian policing, which has historically avoided routinely deploying heavily armed personnel.
Key points
High-visibility patrols will now monitor Sydney sporting venues, crowded public areas, an…: High-visibility patrols will now monitor Sydney sporting venues, crowded public areas, and places of worship.
Police leadership established the heavily equipped unit to intervene quickly during activ…: Police leadership established the heavily equipped unit to intervene quickly during active armed attacks when seconds matter.
Amnesty International Australia warned that the tactical unit raises serious concerns abo…: Amnesty International Australia warned that the tactical unit raises serious concerns about police militarization and human rights protections.
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The Armed Response Command will deploy at major events, crowded public spaces, sporting venues and places of worship to conduct "high visibility" patrols, New South Wales state police said.
SYDNEY: 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 will 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 after two men opened fire on a Jewish celebration at the famous beach, killing 15 people in an antisemitic attack motivated by Islamic State ideology.
The A$94 million (US$66.08 million) unit is composed of 250 police officers armed with Australian combat assault rifles.
The measure is the first of its kind in Australia, where the presence of heavily armed police officers is rare.
"The tragic events at Bondi demonstrated the devastating consequences when an alleged armed offender attacks innocent people," the unit's commander, Detective Superintendent Andrew Evans,…
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