The New South Wales premier has rejected criticism of the police response to the attack on a Jewish festival at Bondi Beach, saying officers acted with bravery and integrity. Some witnesses have suggested police were too slow to disarm the two gunmen, who killed 15 people and injured dozens in Australia's most famous beach on Sunday. There are two officers in critical care... at the moment, Chris Minns said after sustained questioning from reporters. They weren't shot in the back as they were running away. They were shot in the front. The gunmen went on a shooting spree that lasted around ten minutes before police shot both men, killing one and critically injuring the other.
There have also been questions about whether adequate security was provided before the shooting took place. They shoot, shoot, change magazine and just shoot, one witness, Shmulik Scuri, told reporters the day of the assault, adding he thought officers froze. Asked about these criticisms, Minns said the rush to conclusions about the police operation was disrespectful. They didn't take a backward step. They engaged the gunmen on the footbridge with handguns. The offenders had long range rifles, Minns said. If there's any suggestion that NSW Police didn't live up to their responsibilities to the people of this state, it should be rejected because it's not consistent with the facts.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon avoided questions about how many officers had been deployed to police the event in advance. He emphasized that police presence was based on the threat that exists at the time. Australia's security agency has stated the younger alleged gunman had been noted in 2019 for associations that raised concern, though there was no indication of a violent risk. Police established Operation Shelter following a recent attack on Israel to monitor antisemitic hate crimes, focusing on sites with high Jewish populations, such as Bondi Beach. Dr. Vincent Hurley, a former police officer, commented that expecting police to know how to react in unpredictable scenarios, like a mass shooting, is unrealistic, pointing out the chaotic nature of such events.
There have also been questions about whether adequate security was provided before the shooting took place. They shoot, shoot, change magazine and just shoot, one witness, Shmulik Scuri, told reporters the day of the assault, adding he thought officers froze. Asked about these criticisms, Minns said the rush to conclusions about the police operation was disrespectful. They didn't take a backward step. They engaged the gunmen on the footbridge with handguns. The offenders had long range rifles, Minns said. If there's any suggestion that NSW Police didn't live up to their responsibilities to the people of this state, it should be rejected because it's not consistent with the facts.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon avoided questions about how many officers had been deployed to police the event in advance. He emphasized that police presence was based on the threat that exists at the time. Australia's security agency has stated the younger alleged gunman had been noted in 2019 for associations that raised concern, though there was no indication of a violent risk. Police established Operation Shelter following a recent attack on Israel to monitor antisemitic hate crimes, focusing on sites with high Jewish populations, such as Bondi Beach. Dr. Vincent Hurley, a former police officer, commented that expecting police to know how to react in unpredictable scenarios, like a mass shooting, is unrealistic, pointing out the chaotic nature of such events.
