Police operation in Sydney’s east sends shivers through community
'There is no threat to the public,' police say; Deputy Police Commissioner assures The AJN 'NSW is a safe place'
Synagogues were locked down on Saturday morning in Sydney’s eastern suburbs after an incident was reported in the area of Vaucluse and Rose Bay.
The Community Security Group (CSG) issued an update at around 12:30pm to say there was an active Police Operation in the Dover Heights/Rose Bay/Vaucluse area.
“CSG has enacted precautionary measures across Synagogues. Further updates will be provided,” it said.
CSG subsequently advised that the situation “is currently under control and we are advising the community to return to routine”.
“Thank you for your reports and concern regarding the current incident. Please do not circulate any unconfirmed reports,” the CSG said a short time later.
CSG added that Police had confirmed the details of the incident, which was isolated. They also refuted rumours circulating in the community relating to the incident, saying “there is no evidence to suggest that a firearm was sighted”. Media reports suggest a selfie stick may have been mistaken for a gun.
“NSW Police are continuing to investigate the incident,” CSG added.
Responding to enquiries, NSW Police said, “Just after midday, officers from Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command were called to New South Head Road, Vaucluse, following reports of suspicious activity in the area. Officers conducted an extensive and thorough search of the area; however, nothing was located. There is no threat to the public. Inquiries are continuing.”
NSW Police launched Operation Shelter earlier this week to ensure community safety, particularly to respond to any future protest activity.
The operation will coordinate high-visibility policing operations at protest activity as well as engage with various community groups to make decisions about protest activity in the interest of public safety, NSW Police said in a statement.
The operation will also oversee Strike Force Mealing, which has been established to further investigate any offences that may have been committed at Monday’s protest, which began at Town Hall before demonstrators lit flares, burned Israeli flags and chanted “f**k the Jews” and “gas the Jews” at the Sydney Opera House.
“We have a very long history of working closely with the Jewish community to ensure safety in NSW. Daily, we work with the CSG and also the Board of Deputies just to make sure that we understand what’s happening within the Jewish community,” Deputy Commissioner of Metropolitan Field Operations Mal Lanyon, who is leading the operation, told The AJN on Friday night while visiting Sydney’s Emanuel Synagogue with Police Minister Yasmin Catley.
“What I would like to think the community are seeing is a much more visible [police] presence.
“One of the messages that I would make really clear, NSW is a safe place.”
He explained that Operation Shelter will coordinate all intelligence that may come forward “and really task in a very visible way so the community not only are safe, but they feel safe”.
“But what I would say is if anyone has a fear for their safety or an immediate fear for their safety, reach out to your local police, they will respond quickly,” he said.
On Friday, three men were charged after an incident outside the Sydney Jewish Museum in Darlinghurst. Officers from Kings Cross Police Area Command were called to Darlinghurst Road shortly before midday after the men allegedly performed a Nazi salute.
The men – aged 30, 31, and 40 – were arrested and taken to Kings Cross Police Station. They have each been charged with behave in offensive manner in/near public place/school, and knowingly display by public act Nazi symbol without excuse.
On Thursday, a man faced court after allegedly threatening four teenagers in the Sydney suburb of Bellevue Hill earlier this week. The AJN understands the construction worker made death threats against three Jewish teenagers who were displaying an Israeli flag on their car.
“If I f**king see you with that flag, I’ll f**king kill youse all [sic],” the man is alleged to have said.
The 23-year-old man is charged with stalk/intimidate intend fear physical harm.
Deputy Commissioner Lanyon called the incidents “completely unacceptable”.
“But what I would hope is that the community would have great confidence in how quickly the police have responded and the decisive action that has been taken,” he said.
Asked if the police were receiving any specific intelligence of heightened threats to the Jewish community, he said, “The reason for Operation Shelter is to make sure that we are coordinating that intelligence. There is nothing at the moment to indicate an increased threat towards the Jewish community.
“I want to make it very clear that as police we will escalate our response should that happen, and we’ll certainly communicate with the community.”
comments