Police To Carry Long Arm Firearms For First Time At Sydney NYE Celebrations

Chris Minns has confirmed that NSW Police will be carrying long arm firearms at large public gatherings at New Year’s Eve events for the first time this year, while insisting that Sydneysiders proceed with their celebrations as planned.

As reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, the Premier confirmed at a press conference yesterday in Bondi Beach that during the end-of-year period, NSW Police will “be out in massive numbers, in some cases carrying firearms and weapons that you haven’t seen before.

“But we judge it absolutely necessary to send a clear message that we will keep the public safe and do everything we can to restore confidence as Sydneysiders go about enjoying the most beautiful city on Earth,” he continued. “We can’t let these people win. We have to show defiance by going out and spending time with family and friends over the New Year Period.”

The move comes as part of the NSW Government’s response to the fatal attack at Bondi Beach on December 14th, which killed 15 innocent people during Hanukkah celebrations and inspired the rapid passing of stricter gun laws through the Parliament.

In addition to the increased police presence, Minns confirmed that the Government was in discussion with the army to deploy throughout the state at sites like synagogues and Jewish schools. He also stated that he was considering arming the volunteer-led Community Security Group, who had previously warned the government that the now-deadly Chanukah by the Sea event was at risk of an attack.

“That is a step we haven’t taken in the past,” Minns said, “but the truth of the matter is when it comes to ensuring that [the Jewish community] feels safe within their own community, when they have community events, we need to be able to show and demonstrate there is going to be security in place to deal with the threat.”

Premier urges crowds to return to Bondi; fireworks to honour victims

The Premier joined Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh and NSW Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper to urge crowds to return to Bondi Beach in the wake of the attack.

“We can’t have a situation where the businesses and the community here suffers here because the patronage, the consumers, the customers that we’re expecting to come through in the summer months don’t come about,” he said.

Will Nemesh added: “I hope all Sydneysiders can find the time to come down to Bondi over the summer period, grab a meal, go shopping, get a haircut. It will mean more to us than you really know.”

Plans to honour the victims of the Bondi attack at this year’s New Year’s Eve fireworks have also been revealed, with Sydneysiders encouraged to attend or watch the broadcast from home, and to observe a minute of silence on the night.