Heavily-armed police officers have begun patrolling Sydney's streets as part of heightened security following a shooting at Bondi Beach in December that killed 15 people, including a 10-year-old girl.
The Armed Response Command will deploy specially trained officers carrying long-arm rifles in busy tourist areas, major events, sports matches and places of worship. New South Wales police said the officers aim "to prevent, deter and rapidly respond to serious threats, including active armed offender incidents." The operation will eventually consist of 250 officers.
The December 14 attack occurred at an event marking the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. Two gunmen opened fire. One of the alleged gunmen, Naveed Akram, has been charged with 78 offences including 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist act. The other, Sajid Akram, 50, was killed by police at the scene.
The shooting was Australia's worst mass shooting in nearly three decades and prompted gun law reforms and a crackdown on hate speech.
Reactions to the armed patrols have split. Jewish communities have welcomed the measure. Alex Ryvchin, co-CEO of Executive Council of Australian Jewry, said "the sight of body bags is far worse" than armed officers on streets. But one resident told the ABC the armed police presence was "unnerving."
Amnesty International Australia raised concerns about "militarisation of policing" and called for "clear, publicly accessible rules, robust independent oversight and accountability." The group asked for assurances that ARC will not be used to suppress peaceful protests.
New South Wales Police Minister Yasmin Catley told the ABC that "our world changed forever" following the attack.