localgrizzly
Active member
Can you give us an updated SitRep on the problems in Sydney?
To the Aussies among us
Police keep beaches quiet
From:
By Tony Vermeer and Linda Silmalis
December 18, 2005
Security ... Police watch over surfers at North Cronulla / Reuters
POLICE warned of a new threat at Sydney's beaches after learning troublemakers have travelled from interstate to riot today.
Deputy Commissioner Andrew Scipione said police had "serious" intelligence that people from outside Sydney were determined to join both Anglo-Australian and Lebanese-Australian gangs planning to do battle.
He said NSW was preparing for a worst-case scenario amid fears the violence could be worse than that at Cronulla last Sunday.
"This weekend is not a normal weekend. There is nothing normal about the situation we find ourselves in," Mr Scipione said.
"The intelligence we are relying on is not only from SMS messages but from criminal intelligence, CrimeStoppers and the National Security Hotline."
The threat of a race war left the State's best beaches almost deserted yesterday as police launched their biggest operation since the Sydney Olympics to head off clashes between ethnic groups.
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More than 1500 police patrolled beach suburbs in southern Sydney, at Terrigal and in Wollongong, using new powers to weed out suspected troublemakers.
An extra 500 officers will be on duty today to help. A locals-only policy will be in force, to deny outsiders access to beaches.
Traffic was thrown into chaos yesterday by police roadblocks and checkpoints set up to search cars and question motorists on roads leading to Cronulla.
At Maroubra, in Sydney's east, helicopters hovered and police cars patrolled the beachfront to protect just 150 beachgoers.
The police presence will be boosted to 2000 today.
Premier Morris Iemma said the unprecedented lockdowns could continue throughout summer, despite the disruption to seaside communities and the impact on local businesses.
He would not rule out a similar operation being conducted on New Year's Eve.
"Obviously, this doesn't reflect well on this city, but these criminals have effectively declared war on us," Mr Iemma said.
"They want to control the beaches, and the streets and parks near them, and the response has to be one of unity to meet force with force."
Police fear a planned rally by self-proclaimed Australian nationalists at Cronulla today could become a flashpoint.
A running sheet in circulation claims it will be a peaceful gathering, but details tactics for participants, including bringing two-way radios, wearing balaclavas, and feigning amnesia if arrested.
"Send this to everyone you know who is willing to make a stand against the terrorism and gang violence that Australian citizens are facing in the Shire," the sheet says.
ASIO is investigating the role of neo-Nazi and nationalist organisations in the race riots.
It also fears Muslim youths could be driven into the arms of radical Islamic groups.
A leading imam has urged Muslims in Sydney not to join the violence in retaliation.
Sheikh Shadi Suleiman told worshippers at Friday prayers: "This bashing or harming of innocent people is absolutely rejected by Islam and humanity.
"We call upon our youth to calm down and to remember Allah and fear Him."
Assistant Police Commissioner Mark Goodwin said anyone heading to the beaches to cause trouble would pay dearly.
"We will confiscate your car, we will confiscate your mobile phone, and you won't be having a merry Christmas at all," he said.
In a sign of the scale of the crisis, NSW Police metropolitan commands have undergone an emergency restructure. Four major incident response teams have been created, following a similar plan to that used during the Sydney Olympics.
Further to what is reported above on News.com.au, I was talking to a couple of mates in the NSW Police and they are of the opinion it is religion based not race based. Looks like Ted was on the ball.
BTW the boat and Zodiac where also off Maroubra yesterday as well, (before the weather turned sour), Anzac rifle range overlooks the beach.
From:
By Tony Vermeer and Linda Silmalis
December 18, 2005
POLICE warned of a new threat at Sydney's beaches after learning troublemakers have travelled from interstate to riot today.
Deputy Commissioner Andrew Scipione said police had "serious" intelligence that people from outside Sydney were determined to join both Anglo-Australian and Lebanese-Australian gangs planning to do battle.
He said NSW was preparing for a worst-case scenario amid fears the violence could be worse than that at Cronulla last Sunday.
"This weekend is not a normal weekend. There is nothing normal about the situation we find ourselves in," Mr Scipione said.
"The intelligence we are relying on is not only from SMS messages but from criminal intelligence, CrimeStoppers and the National Security Hotline."
The threat of a race war left the State's best beaches almost deserted yesterday as police launched their biggest operation since the Sydney Olympics to head off clashes between ethnic groups.
Advertisement:
More than 1500 police patrolled beach suburbs in southern Sydney, at Terrigal and in Wollongong, using new powers to weed out suspected troublemakers.
An extra 500 officers will be on duty today to help. A locals-only policy will be in force, to deny outsiders access to beaches.
Traffic was thrown into chaos yesterday by police roadblocks and checkpoints set up to search cars and question motorists on roads leading to Cronulla.
At Maroubra, in Sydney's east, helicopters hovered and police cars patrolled the beachfront to protect just 150 beachgoers.
The police presence will be boosted to 2000 today.
Premier Morris Iemma said the unprecedented lockdowns could continue throughout summer, despite the disruption to seaside communities and the impact on local businesses.
He would not rule out a similar operation being conducted on New Year's Eve.
"Obviously, this doesn't reflect well on this city, but these criminals have effectively declared war on us," Mr Iemma said.
"They want to control the beaches, and the streets and parks near them, and the response has to be one of unity to meet force with force."
Police fear a planned rally by self-proclaimed Australian nationalists at Cronulla today could become a flashpoint.
A running sheet in circulation claims it will be a peaceful gathering, but details tactics for participants, including bringing two-way radios, wearing balaclavas, and feigning amnesia if arrested.
"Send this to everyone you know who is willing to make a stand against the terrorism and gang violence that Australian citizens are facing in the Shire," the sheet says.
ASIO is investigating the role of neo-Nazi and nationalist organisations in the race riots.
It also fears Muslim youths could be driven into the arms of radical Islamic groups.
A leading imam has urged Muslims in Sydney not to join the violence in retaliation.
Sheikh Shadi Suleiman told worshippers at Friday prayers: "This bashing or harming of innocent people is absolutely rejected by Islam and humanity.
"We call upon our youth to calm down and to remember Allah and fear Him."
Assistant Police Commissioner Mark Goodwin said anyone heading to the beaches to cause trouble would pay dearly.
"We will confiscate your car, we will confiscate your mobile phone, and you won't be having a merry Christmas at all," he said.
In a sign of the scale of the crisis, NSW Police metropolitan commands have undergone an emergency restructure. Four major incident response teams have been created, following a similar plan to that used during the Sydney Olympics.
Further to what is reported above on News.com.au, I was talking to a couple of mates in the NSW Police and they are of the opinion it is religion based not race based. Looks like Ted was on the ball.
BTW the boat and Zodiac where also off Maroubra yesterday as well, (before the weather turned sour), Anzac rifle range overlooks the beach.
Locke
Active member
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/seven-held-over-petrol-bombs/2005/12/18/1134840730293.html
Seven men have been arrested in Sydney armed with molotov cocktails as 2000 police patrol the city to prevent more race-fuelled violence.
Two of the men were arrested with the petrol bombs on a bus to Bondi, police said. The two were caught this morning after the bus driver smelled petrol as the bus travelled through East Sydney on its way to Bondi. He alerted police.
A short time ago at Brighton-le-Sands, in Sydney's south, police said five men were arrested, also in possession of molotov cocktails.
Police warnings, lockdowns and a massive presence at Sydney beaches appear to have averted futher riots today.
As about 1000 people rallied in the central business district to promote peace, as beachgoers heeded warnings to stay away from areas considered at risk of more unrest.
The scene was in stark contrast to last Sunday, when about 5000 people rioted at Cronulla beach in Sydney's south, bashing anyone of Middle Eastern appearance.
The attacks sparked a wave of reprisals, with mobs later going on the rampage through several suburbs, trashing shops and cars and attacking police and churches.
Today's sunny weather failed to attract anything like normal summer crowds to southern and eastern Sydney beaches, which were locked down amid police fears that last weekend's violence could be repeated.
Lifeguards at Cronulla, Maroubra, Coogee and Bondi all reported small numbers of beachgoers.
Some reported numbers lower than they had ever seen on a sunny summer Sunday.
Police on Friday warned people not to visit the beaches this weekend, acting on what they said was credible information gathered from SMS messages, criminal intelligence, Crime Stoppers and the National Security Hotline.
"People generally appear to have heeded the warnings not to go to the beaches we've warned them about," a police spokesman said today.
A new round of text messages urging violence, which began circulating after last week's unrest, saw police increase their presence to 1500 officers yesterday, and 2000 today.
More than 30 roads were closed, and cars searched today, with police using tough new laws passed during an emergency session of state parliament last week.
Seven men have been arrested in Sydney armed with molotov cocktails as 2000 police patrol the city to prevent more race-fuelled violence.
Two of the men were arrested with the petrol bombs on a bus to Bondi, police said. The two were caught this morning after the bus driver smelled petrol as the bus travelled through East Sydney on its way to Bondi. He alerted police.
A short time ago at Brighton-le-Sands, in Sydney's south, police said five men were arrested, also in possession of molotov cocktails.
Police warnings, lockdowns and a massive presence at Sydney beaches appear to have averted futher riots today.
As about 1000 people rallied in the central business district to promote peace, as beachgoers heeded warnings to stay away from areas considered at risk of more unrest.
The scene was in stark contrast to last Sunday, when about 5000 people rioted at Cronulla beach in Sydney's south, bashing anyone of Middle Eastern appearance.
The attacks sparked a wave of reprisals, with mobs later going on the rampage through several suburbs, trashing shops and cars and attacking police and churches.
Today's sunny weather failed to attract anything like normal summer crowds to southern and eastern Sydney beaches, which were locked down amid police fears that last weekend's violence could be repeated.
Lifeguards at Cronulla, Maroubra, Coogee and Bondi all reported small numbers of beachgoers.
Some reported numbers lower than they had ever seen on a sunny summer Sunday.
Police on Friday warned people not to visit the beaches this weekend, acting on what they said was credible information gathered from SMS messages, criminal intelligence, Crime Stoppers and the National Security Hotline.
"People generally appear to have heeded the warnings not to go to the beaches we've warned them about," a police spokesman said today.
A new round of text messages urging violence, which began circulating after last week's unrest, saw police increase their presence to 1500 officers yesterday, and 2000 today.
More than 30 roads were closed, and cars searched today, with police using tough new laws passed during an emergency session of state parliament last week.
Bory
Active member
This is where I get my news on all of this,
http://myweb.accessus.net/~090/scan/scanneraudio.html
Scroll down the page until you find Sydney, Australia. You can listen in to what our Boy's and Girl's in blue are up too.
http://myweb.accessus.net/~090/scan/scanneraudio.html
Scroll down the page until you find Sydney, Australia. You can listen in to what our Boy's and Girl's in blue are up too.
Starting to die down now.
Representatives of all parties are putting on a strong show of friendship etc.
Everybody is condeming the idiots on both sides for what has happened.
Giggleing over the travel warnings you guys are getting.
Bondi beach etc wont be crowded with too many sunburnt poms this christmas! TIC.
Seriously folks come on down and enjoy yourselves. We have had a minor hiccup, the summer heat is kicking in and its all fading away.
The beer is cold, the fish are biting.... who knows we may get a run for our money in the cricket yet!
Representatives of all parties are putting on a strong show of friendship etc.
Everybody is condeming the idiots on both sides for what has happened.
Giggleing over the travel warnings you guys are getting.
Bondi beach etc wont be crowded with too many sunburnt poms this christmas! TIC.
Seriously folks come on down and enjoy yourselves. We have had a minor hiccup, the summer heat is kicking in and its all fading away.
The beer is cold, the fish are biting.... who knows we may get a run for our money in the cricket yet!
MightyMacbeth
I am Honor
Warwick said:
heh, sounds awesome!
would be happy to be there
