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.
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.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon avoided questions about how many officers had been deployed to police the event in advance, stating, Police regularly patrol that area as we did on that day, and that police presence was based on the threat that exists at the time. Australia’s security agency noted that one alleged gunman had raised concerns back in 2019 but was not considered a violent risk at that time.
Dr. Vincent Hurley, a former police officer who lectures on policing, pointed out that it is unrealistic to expect officers to have protocols for every possible tragedy. He stressed the chaos on the scene made it particularly challenging for police to respond effectively.
As the community mourns the loss and grapples with the implications of rising antisemitism, discussions around security measures and police preparedness for such events continue to unfold.
