In a significant security escalation for a major sporting event, New South Wales police have confirmed that officers will carry long-arm rifles during the final Ashes Test match in Sydney. The decision follows a period of heightened security measures across Australia in the wake of the deadly Bondi terror attack.
Visible Security for Public Reassurance
The fifth and final Ashes Test is scheduled to begin this Sunday at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), with a capacity crowd of approximately 48,000 spectators expected. NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon stated that while there is no active or imminent threat, the visible presence of public order and riot squad officers with rifles is intended to help the public feel safe. "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," Lanyon explained.
Post-Bondi Security Ramp-Up
This deployment continues a pattern of increased armed visibility at major Australian events since the 14 December attack at the Chanukah by the Sea event on Bondi Beach, which resulted in 15 fatalities. Similar measures were implemented at the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where Victoria police displayed semi-automatic rifles, and during Sydney's New Year's Eve celebrations, which involved over 2,500 officers.
NSW Premier Chris Minns has indicated that the state government is considering further protective steps. These include potentially requesting Australian Defence Force troops to guard Jewish sites and expanding weapons access for the Jewish Community Security Group (CSG) to allow them to carry firearms at public events.
International Response and Political Context
The Bondi attack has also prompted an international security dialogue. Israel's Minister for Diaspora Affairs, Amichai Chikli, has written to Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, offering to host and train senior Australian police and security personnel. In the letter, Chikli suggested that Burke's prior correspondence did not directly identify "radical Islam" as the ideology behind the attack.
A spokesperson for Minister Burke's office confirmed receipt of the letter but declined to comment on whether the training offer was under consideration. The government emphasised its ongoing actions against hate speech, crimes, and symbols.
For the Sydney Test, NSW police have promised a high-visibility presence, including uniformed and mounted units, to patrol the grounds and ensure safety. The force described recent New Year's Eve celebrations, which featured similar armed deployments, as a "largely incident-free night."
As Australia leads the series 3-1, the final match's security posture underscores a shifting landscape for public event safety in the country, balancing reassurance with a robust response to evolving threats.
