Increased police presence in Sydney for New Year’s Eve following Bondi terror attack
New South Wales’ premier Chris Minns urged people to ‘show defiance to these evil terrorists’ by celebrating the event at Sydney Harbour
Australian authorities on Tuesday said there would be an increased police presence in Sydney on New Year’s Eve, less than three weeks after 15 people were killed in the Bondi terror attack.
More than 2,500 officers will be on high-visibility patrols in Sydney on Wednesday, New South Wales (NSW) Police said in a statement.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said Wednesday would see the “largest deployment of police for a New Year’s Eve celebration ever”.
The measures are in place to help people feel safe, Minns said in a press conference. “That is a clear and deliberate message from the police that safety is the number one priority.”
“I know that there will be a degree of trepidation after the horrible events of December 14 … we want the people of this state to show defiance to these evil terrorists by spending some time on the most beautiful harbour, in the most beautiful city in the world tomorrow night.”
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NSW Police said in a statement that officers “will use all available resources to ensure the community can ring in the New Year in a safe way”.